Russell Crowe Takes "Robin Hood" to Dark Side

There's a new twist on an old tale that's hitting theaters Friday. Russell Crowe stars as Robin Hood, a simple soldier who becomes the voice of the people in 12th century England.

"Early Show" co-anchor Julie Chen sat down with Crowe recently in Beverly Hills. He told Chen he's been fascinated with Robin Hood since he was a little boy. For the role, Crowe read more than 30 books on the subject.

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Does he have a favorite version of "Robin Hood"?

He says every Robin Hood he'd seen was always "somehow unsatisfying."

He said when he heard about director Ridley Scott's project, he thought, "'I can address that.'"

Crowe's take on Robin Hood is a darker, grittier version.

Crowe explained, "Robin Hood is that man that's prepared to stand up and redress the balance. Because it was illegal to hunt in the forest, you couldn't shoot anything, you couldn't grow anything, you couldn't pick up found things. But I want to believe that there was an original Robin Hood."

Like Robin Hood's commitment to a cause, Crowe's commitment to a role is also legendary. From a Roman general in "Gladiator" to a washed-up boxer in "Cinderella Man" or a famous outlaw in "3:10 to Yuma," Crowe embraces, and then embodies his characters.

In many of his roles, Crowe has transformed himself. For "Robin Hood," he had to learn to shoot a bow and arrow and ride a horse.

But Crowe said it's simpler than it looks. He said he's prepared for anything he has to do for a role -- and it's all about the way you look at the challenge: "I would take that attitude on anything, whether it's making sure my boys are not walking around with a dirty nappy or whatever it happens to be. In the moment, I do what it is that I need to do."

In April, Crowe was honored with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. His wife, Danielle Spencer, and their sons, Charlie and Tennyson, were on hand to share the moment.

Chen asked Crowe, "Do your boys understand what you do for a living?"

Crowe replied, "Not really, but I'm fine with that. It's coming slowly, but what am I gonna do -- sit down and force them to watch my movies? And what movie am I gonna show them?"

Chen laughed and said, "That's true."

Crowe added, "What movie that I've done could I ever show them without having to do far too much explaining, and then probably take them to a counselor for X amount of years then, 'Oh, my dad just chopped off somebody's head, you know?"

However, Crowe's sons did spend some time on the set of "Robin Hood." Chen said they were even given chainmail and warrior costumes by the wardrobe department.

For years, Crowe has endured a love-hate relationship with press, preferring to raise his family in Australia, far from the spotlight.

Chen broached the topic with the Crowe, saying "You seem to be a pretty private person. Has fame changed the way you go about your job?"

He responded, "Yeah, a lot, you know, it does over time. I mean, look, there was a period of time for a few years where I railed against it. It was my sort of instinct to fight again people putting me on such a ridiculous pedestal that you can never really live up."

He continued, "What it really boils down to is that, I respect the power of the cinema, and I know my job's not important, and it's not as important as a policeman, or a fireman. But you know, there is a time in everybody's life when you just want to get taken away by a story. I'm working on behalf of those people who really need a little bit of fiction, something to seriously take them out of their lives and make them forget their problems for awhile, and that's my gig. It's a great gig."

Chen added on "The Early Show" Crowe got his first producer credit on "Robin Hood."

She said she asked Crowe if he's planning a sequel and he said as he and director Ridley developed the project, the story they wanted to tell could have been about a seven hour movie.

She said, "They obviously have a lot more to tales to tell -- and he wants in."

She added that Crowe said, "This movie is Ridley Scott on his knees in the last frame, begging the audience to let him make another movie as big as this."