In an exclusive new interview, the stars of the upcoming adventure series Robin Hood have opened up about their first meeting and the intense preparation behind the scenes. The show, which airs on MGM+, features established names like Sean Bean and Connie Nielsen, but places newcomer Jack Patten squarely in the spotlight as the legendary hero.
First Impressions and a Forged Bond
Australian actor Jack Patten, who takes on the ambitious lead role, stars alongside Lauren McQueen, who plays the iconic Maid Marian. The pair recalled their initial encounter during a chemistry reading in London, a moment charged with professional tension.
Jack shared his immediate high regard for his future co-star, saying he was "gunning for Lauren the whole time." He felt she was perfect for the part from the very beginning, even if he couldn't say so at the time. "I felt like saying 'That was incredible, I hope you get it', but you can't," Patten admitted. "Because who am I to say that? But I was gunning for Lauren the whole time. I was like yep, she's Marian 100%."
Lauren McQueen, who travelled from Liverpool for the audition while Jack flew in from Australia, took the initiative to break the ice. She described the nerve-wracking atmosphere of the waiting room, where she saw Jack having a break and decided to approach him. "I thought to myself 'I'm just going to go over and say hello'," McQueen explained. "Because in the next five minutes we are going to be in a room acting like we are in love and we just need to break the ice." Finding common ground in her recent trip to Australia, the pair connected instantly, with their rapport coming "naturally."
A Quest for Authentic Action
Beyond building chemistry with his co-star, Jack Patten was wholly dedicated to the physical demands of the role. He was keen to perform as many of his own stunts as the production would allow, particularly the archery sequences.
"It was incredible," he shared enthusiastically. "That was one of the things I was most excited about. I really wanted to do the bow and arrow stuff myself and do as many stunts myself as they would allow me to do."
His commitment to authenticity was paramount. He described a process of relentless practice, where he would learn from mistakes and immediately try again. "You fall over, you get back up, you don't lower the bow correctly, you just redo it. That's the good thing about it," Patten said. "But I really wanted it to be authentic, I didn't want it to look like it wasn't me."
This dedication translated into an intense training regimen. In the three weeks leading up to shooting, Patten would spend up to eight hours a day honing his skills to ensure his portrayal of the famed archer was as genuine as possible.
The new Robin Hood series, featuring this compelling new lead and his on-screen partnership with Lauren McQueen, is available to watch on MGM+.
