With the Robin Hood (Taron Egerton) and Maid Marian (Eve Hewson) roles locked up for Lionsgate's gritty reboot Robin Hood: Origins, the rest of the cast is starting to get filled out. Deadline reports that Jamie Foxx has come aboard to star as Little John, although this version of the character will be much different than the original folklore tale. This incarnation of Little John is said to start out not trusting Robin Hood, because they both fought on the opposite side of The Crusades. But he eventually warms up to the hero.

Joby Harold (Knights of the Round Table) wrote the screenplay, which offers a revisionist take on the beloved Robin Hood tale. The plot follows the title character, who returns home from fighting in The Crusades. He discovers that his beloved Sherwood Forest has become a den of corruption, leading him to form a band of merry outlaws to take back his homeland.

The plot has been said to be quite gritty in tone, with some comparing it to Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight. Production was originally scheduled to begin in February, but that caused a conflict with Taron Egerton's sequel Kingsman 2, which has been set for release on June 16, 2017. The young actor will now shoot Kingsman 2 first, before going directly into Robin Hood: Origins in either late summer or early fall.

Otto Bathurst is set to direct Robin Hood: Origins from Joby Harold's script. The German filmmaker is best known for directing the pilot episode of Peaky Blinders, and films such as Hustle and Five Days. Leonardo DiCaprio is producing with his Appian Way partner Jennifer Davisson, alongside Safe House's Joby Harold, Tory Tunnell and Basil Iwanyk.

Jamie Foxx most recently starred in Horrible Bosses 2 and Annie, and he will next be seen in Sleepless Night, alongside Michelle Monaghan and Gabrielle Union. He is also attached to star in Edgar Wright's Baby Driver, which is slated to start production sometime this year and has been given a March 17, 2017 release date. What do you think about Jamie Foxx playing Little John in Robin Hood: Origins?