Belgrade, November 4th, 2025
The new 10-episode series Robin Hood. directed by Jonathan English and created alongside John Glenn – premiered this Sunday, November 2nd, on MGM+, offering a fresh take on the legendary English outlaw.
The story is set in 12th-century England and follows Rob, the Saxon forester’s son, and Marian, daughter of a Norman lord, as they navigate the Norman rule and societal injustice. The adaptation places greater emphasis on cultural conflict (Saxons vs Normans) and gives more agency to female characters than many past versions.
While the series has been praised for its visual ambition, historical detail and character depth, what distinguishes this effort is the series’ complete production in Serbia, making full use of its diverse landscapes and studio infrastructure. The forests of Fruška Gora doubled as the mythical Sherwood Forest, while scenes at the Mlava River captured the dynamic carriage ambush. In the mountainous region around Rudnik, the production built the Saxon estate of Locksley Manor, Rob’s family home before the Norman conquest. At PFI Studios in Šimanovci, near Belgrade, designers constructed elaborate interior sets — from the medieval Nottingham square to detailed replicas of Westminster Palace and a gothic cathedral, built entirely from scratch to reflect twelfth-century England.
Production designers Jovana Cvetković and Jelena Sopić led the visual world-building. “Since the period we’re depicting has no surviving structures, all the sets were built from scratch and the forest scenes were carefully chosen from preserved locations,” explained Cvetković. Her colleague Sopić added: “It was wonderful to see how sketches, which only yesterday were papers on office walls, became walls and ten-metre-high facades.” Their collaboration with more than 200 Serbian crew members — from carpenters and set decorators to costume artists — was central to creating the show’s visual identity.
According to the producers, Serbia offered both the landscapes and the technical capacity needed to recreate the look and atmosphere of medieval England. “The professionalism of the local crews made a significant difference”, says Jonathan English. Beyond the screen, the production invested in local infrastructure, renovating the community centre in the village of Varnice, which was also used for several location shoots.
The cast features Jack Patten as Rob, the Saxon forester’s son who rises to lead the outlaws, and Lauren McQueen as Marian, the daughter of a Norman lord caught between loyalty and conscience. Sean Bean portrays the calculating Sheriff of Nottingham, while Connie Nielsen takes on the role of Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Among Serbian actors Jelena Gavrilović plays forest goddess Godda, Tamara Radovanović supports the court intrigues as lady in waiting, and Miloš Timotijević is Egbert, one of the Saxon knights.
Balancing historical realism with cinematic storytelling, Robin Hood combines large-scale production design with emotional depth and strong performances. With its debut now streaming on MGM+, the series not only brings new life to a centuries-old legend but also underlines Serbia’s position as a capable and versatile destination for international film and television production.
Main photo credits: Andrew Timms for MGM+
Photo credits: MGM+, Darko Vojinović & Aleksandar Letić
