Kevin Kline has already played one famous Hollywood swashbuckler; he was Douglas Fairbanks in Richard Attenborough’s Chaplin. Now he’s going to take on the role of Fairbanks’s Hollywood heir apparent: Errol Flynn.
The Film Stage informs us that Kline has signed on to play Flynn in The Last Days of Robin Hood, written and directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland of 2006’s Quinceanera. The Last Days of Robin Hood will focus on the end of Flynn’s life – he passed away of a heart attack at the age of 50 – and particularly his sexual relationship with the 17 year-old actress Beverly Aadland.
Alongside Kline, Susan Sarandon is considering the role of Aadland’s mother Florence, a woman who supposedly lived vicariously through her daughter. There’s no word yet on who will take on the role of Beverly Aadland herself, though whoever does will have a difficult part to play.
Kevin Kline is one of the few actors who could do justice to Flynn, both physically and emotionally, so I’m pleased to see him attached to this project. For me, though, the subject matter leaves a little to be desired. I’d rather see a film that shows the ups and downs of the man’s career, not the most sordid part of his death. Despite my reservations, and with Sarandon likely attached as well, I’m cautiously optimistic.
Production on The Last Days of Robin Hood begins in January.
As always, we’ll keep an ear out for further casting details as they become available.