Blanchett, who will return to the American stage in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in November, has signed to portray Maid Marian opposite fellow Oscar winner Russell Crowe in the title role, according to Variety. The $130 million film has a new screenplay penned by Brian Helgeland based on the original screenplay by Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris. The trade paper reports the film will have an original plot; however, it has evolved into a "Gladiator"-like retelling of the legend. Crowe previously starred in the Oscar-winning film of "Gladiator" under the direction of Ridley Scott.
The adventure film, which was previously titled "Nottingham," will begin filming in London this April.
Cate Blanchett won the Academy Award for her performance in "The Aviator"; she was also Oscar-nominated for her work in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age," "I'm Not There," "Notes on a Scandal" and "Elizabeth." The actress starred in Hedda Gabler at New York's Brooklyn Academy of Music, and her acting credits at the Syndey Theatre Company include productions of Caryl Churchill's Top Girls, Timothy Daly's Kafka Dances and David Mamet's Oleanna. Blanchett also appeared on the London stage in David Hare's Plenty.