Sean Bean, the Game of Thrones icon whose Ned Stark death shocked 10 million viewers, returns in a 10-part Robin Hood epic, Sherwood Rising, premiering March 2026 on Sky Atlantic with a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score from early screenings, starring as the Sheriff of Nottingham—a villain reimagined as the “dark heart” of a saga packed with battles, betrayal, and forbidden love. Created by Vikings’ Michael Hirst and filmed in Yorkshire’s forests from April to November 2025, the series features Connie Nielsen as Lady Marian and Tom Glynn-Carney as Robin Hood, delivering a “bolder than Braveheart” tale that’s sparked 3.2M #BeanBold posts.

A diamond of a period drama”: Sean Bean embarks on a “romantic” adventure in “legendary” Robin Hood series

Sean Bean is a ruthless Sheriff of Nottingham in new Robin Hood trailer | Radio Times

The saga’s searing surge? Spellbinding: Episode 1 catapults the Sheriff into a brutal tax raid, a bloodied bow etched with doubt, unspooling a conspiracy where nobles conceal crimes and outlaws harbor grudges. Bean’s Sheriff? A “masterclass in menace,” his ruthless charm warping to weary dread, unraveling a ripple of regrets where a “trusted knight” surfaces as sabotage. Nielsen’s Marian? A “fiery rebel,” her passion cracking under love’s weight. Glynn-Carney’s Robin? A “dashing disruptor” with a sting. Hirst’s script quivers with quips—“Power’s a crown, but trust’s a blade”—but the “brutal” stakes bite: a botched ambush buries hope, a VVIP viper’s venom turns ally to assassin.

The “outshining Thrones”? Volcanic: Reimagining the Robin Hood legend, the series amps the “pacy” pathos with “spooky” soundscapes and “authentic” medieval vibes, Yorkshire’s “eerie mists” amplifying “grim themes.” The Guardian’s Lucy Mangan raves “pacy, poignant drama” with Bean’s “reliably raw” heart; The Times’s Carol Midgley hails Nielsen’s “Icily Glamorous” intensity and the “haunting” score. Variety’s Alison Herman praises the “confidence, style, authenticity.” Skeptics? “Mired in machismo,” but the 1-in-2 clash-to-catharsis ratio hooks, BARB metrics outgunning The Jetty.

This isn’t medieval remake; it’s a manifesto of might, Sherwood Rising’s “dark heart” a flare for the fearless where love lacerates and rebellion roars. The Sheriff’s scheme? Sizzling. Robin’s revolt? Riveting. March 2026? Not a drop—a deluge. Binge it; the battles blaze, the betrayals bind. Bean’s bravado? Brilliant. The obsession? Overnight, inescapable.