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Cate Blanchett will play Maid Marian in Ridley Scott's big-budget adaptation of Robin Hood, according to reports.
The Oscar-winning actress will appear opposite Russell Crowe in the classic folk tale, according to Variety magazine.
Factory Girl star Sienna Miller was originally meant to play the female lead but was axed late last year amid rumours she would make the Gladiator star seem old and out-of-shape.
Co-producer Brian Grazer insists Cate will be a strong match for Russell.
He said recently: "They are both highly accomplished dramatic actors who are taken seriously playing rich characters in period pieces, but each has the ability to show you fun."
The adventure film had originally been titled Nottingham and Crowe was set to play both outlaw Robin and his nemesis, the Sheriff of Nottingham, but the director recently revealed they have overhauled the script completely.
He said: "Russell in both roles was an idea so far back, way back when at the time I had this proposed to me, and I read it and thought, 'I don't really know what it does for it, but it's alright.'
"It is better to simply have the evolution of a character called Robin Hood, who will come out of a point in the Crusades which is the end.
"The Sheriff of Nottingham is always a kind of an amusing character in most of the movies, who represents the hierarchy in the story at that point."
The movie is now likely to focus on the origins of Robin Hood and how he falls in love with the beautiful Maid Marian.
- BANG! SHOWBIZ
