Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
1991 film
Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Van Lathan
Aired November 7, 2023
‹ All people
Breaking Away
This Is the End
Hard to Kill
Rocky III
Rocky III
Batman
Batman
Boyz n the Hood
Se7en
Film credit
Morgan Freeman
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 5
- Movies in this archive
- 7
Rewatchables episodes featuring Morgan Freeman’s films
Displaying all 5 episodes
Mentioned in discussions
Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake
Untouchable; an all-Black Gary-to-Bloomington version considered
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:29:08Read transcript
- Untouchable is the initial answer, but an all-Black version involving a Gary team visiting Bloomington is entertained; cycling itself might change.
- A 1979 cast discussion considers Richard Pryor, early Denzel Washington, Eddie Murphy and Morgan Freeman, with age and cycling-fitness objections. — Sean Fennessey
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:43Read transcript
- Dawson is the clear internal choice for one Oscar. — Bill Simmons
- Sean Connery, Albert Brooks, Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, and Vincent Gardenia make the real supporting field too competitive. — Bill Simmons
Casting What-Ifs
Mila Kunis or Kristen Stewart for Emma Watson; several lost cameos
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 00:48:55Read transcript
- Mila Kunis was reportedly the original Emma Watson-role choice and is favored by one participant for her comic history with the cast.
- Others defend Emma Watson because Hermione’s presence and her perceived innocence make the scene stranger and funnier.
- Kristen Stewart is proposed as a Twilight-based alternate. — Bill Simmons
- Cameron Diaz was reportedly lost when production moved from Los Angeles to New Orleans. — Bill Simmons
- Daniel Radcliffe reportedly declined a role. — Bill Simmons
- An alternate ending with Morgan Freeman pretending to be God is described and rejected in favor of the Backstreet Boys ending. — Bill Simmons
J.A. Adande Award for Looking the Same Age
J.A. Adande; Dean Norris; Morgan Freeman; Michael Caine
The panel proposes a new category here.
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:01:17Read transcript
- Dean Norris’s seemingly unchanged age prompts a proposed J.A. Adande award for someone who has looked the same throughout the observer’s life, with Freeman and Caine added. — Bill Simmons
Recasting Couch
Morgan Freeman as Clubber’s trainer; Kevin Harlan as announcer; young Mel Gibson as the rabbi (jokingly)
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:02:53Read transcript
- Morgan Freeman is proposed as Clubber’s trainer despite the need to deliver instructions quickly. — Bill Simmons
- Kevin Harlan is proposed for the second fight’s play-by-play.
- A young Mel Gibson is jokingly proposed as the rabbi at Mickey’s funeral.
Casting What-Ifs
Joe Frazier and Ernie Shavers were considered for Clubber; Billy Graham for Thunderlips; Morgan Freeman for Clubber’s trainer; and several actors or wrestlers are proposed as alternatives.
This discussion recalls a choice from an earlier episode.
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 00:57:20Read transcript
- Joe Frazier and Ernie Shavers were considered for Clubber, but a stutter and a high voice were seen as liabilities. — Bill Simmons
- Mr. T was discovered through America’s Best Bouncer. — Bill Simmons
- Superstar Billy Graham was considered too old for Thunderlips. — Bill Simmons
- Morgan Freeman unsuccessfully auditioned to be Clubber’s trainer.
- John Amos is considered as a known actor alternative, though his age and familiarity would reduce Clubber’s mystery. — Cousin Sal
- Andre, Ernie Ladd, Big John Stud, Bundy, and Paul Orndorf are discussed as wrestling alternatives for Thunderlips.
Recasting Couch
Phil Hartman as Knox; Morgan Freeman as Harvey Dent
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:49:37Read transcript
- Morgan Freeman is proposed as Harvey Dent, who could return for the sequel; whether he would make a good Two-Face is disputed. — Bill Simmons
- A bigger actor is wanted for the Knox role; Robin Williams is floated and Daniel Day-Lewis is joked about. — Bill Simmons
- Phil Hartman is the recasting-couch pick for Knox. — Bill Simmons
- The recap asks for literally any actor other than the Knox actor, listing Daniel Day-Lewis and Phil Hartman for Knox and Morgan Freeman as Harvey Dent. — Bill Simmons
What’s Aged the Worst?
Dated effects; darkness; Vicki Vale framing; Keaton-Basinger romance; casting uproar; Prince soundtrack; Gotham Globe newspaper; Keaton’s hair; wasted Billy Dee Williams; Pat Hingle; Robert Wuhl as Knox
In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 00:42:06Read transcript
- The framing of Vicki Vale is flagged as weird and reserved for this category. — Bill Simmons
- Some special effects, like the bat plane flight, feel very 1989. — Bill Simmons
- The film is too dark and literally hard to see in places; The Batman is said to be darker still. — Bill Simmons
- The Keaton-Basinger scenes feel rough; a defense says they convey chemistry and that the Joker is crude and after her. — Sean Fennessey
- Keaton’s Bruce is an odd, untraumatized weirdo, so the romance raises the question of why she likes him beyond his money; he is compared to a tech billionaire with a Steve Jobs look, though he had great chemistry with Michelle Pfeiffer in the sequel. — Sean Fennessey
- The uproar over casting Keaton, with a reported 50,000 protest letters, is hard to explain today and is contrasted with modern tweet-based hate. — Chris Ryan
- The Prince soundtrack is named, while Trust and Party Man are defended as good songs.
- The importance of the Gotham Globe newspaper has dated; the setting feels like both 1989 and 1948, and Gotham is a composite of many cities.
- Keaton’s hair sometimes looks like a wig. — Bill Simmons
- Billy Dee Williams is wasted as Harvey Dent and was later replaced by Tommy Lee Jones; Morgan Freeman is floated but his fit as Two-Face is debated.
- Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon would be recast; William Hootkins as the lieutenant is defended. — Bill Simmons
- Robert Wuhl as Knox is the worst part: he is in too many scenes after Bull Durham, which is called the most unfortunate part of the movie. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 00:19:25Read transcript
- Movie presidents are raised as something held for Apex Mountain; it is unclear whether the Mount Rushmore allows TV or only movies. — Bill Simmons
- If movies only, the four most important movie presidents are Michael Douglas in The American President, Kevin Klein in Dave and Pullman in Independence Day, with the fourth spot wide open; for this participant it is Jeff Bridges in The Contender, who seemed very presidential. — Bill Simmons
- Others might put Morgan Freeman in Deep Impact in the fourth spot. — Bill Simmons
- Asked for a fourth, a special dispensation for Jed Bartlet from The West Wing is requested. — Chris Ryan
- TV presidents are ruled out for this list; Haysbert from 24 and Bartlet are said to have strong cases for a TV Rushmore. — Chris Ryan
- Film portrayals of Kennedy are not worth including; fictional presidents work better. — Chris Ryan
- A totally different four: the Independence Day president, Harrison Ford in Air Force One because a president who can fight is preferred, Jamie Fox in White House Down, and Morgan Freeman. — Shea Serrano
- Kevin Klein in Dave redid a budget and healed America; since a movie president appears only when something bad is happening, the preference is for one who can handle himself.
- White House Down, seen only once, is said to be better and sillier than remembered; Olympus Has Fallen is preferred by one participant.
Recasting Couch
Reject Morgan Freeman as the recruiter; he could overwhelm Ricky’s scene
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:19:16Read transcript
- Morgan Freeman as the recruiter is proposed but rejected for potentially taking the scene away from Ricky. — Logan Murdock
- Sam Jackson is considered as recruiter; Denzel as Furious is supported, while Jackson as Furious seems too early in his career. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 00:06:14Read transcript
- This movie president is ranked number one: it was the first and only movie president for this participant, and the final speech lays out a president's values and character in four minutes. — Amanda Dobbins
- A "Mount Presmore" is offered with Douglas in The American President and Kevin Klein in Dave, one of them called number one; another participant also has him number one but does not want to rank. — Amanda Dobbins
- Jeff Bridges in The Contender is unbelievable and seems like he could have been a real president. — Bill Simmons
- Haysbert in 24 was an ahead-of-its-time character who seemed in charge; the four so far are named as favorites, making Haysbert a candidate fourth slot. — Bill Simmons
- Haysbert is switched out for Morgan Freeman in Deep Impact, a stern crisis president, leaving the fourth slot unsettled; Dave is the quintessential president movie and this the quintessential White House movie. — Van Lathan
- All three participants love The Contender. — Van Lathan
- Bill Pullman in Independence Day is added for his end speech; the worst movie presidents are left for a future president movie. — Bill Simmons
Apex Mountain
Morgan Freeman (disputed)
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:09:30Read transcript
- Freeman receives a yes based on Shawshank followed by Seven and resulting leverage; 1989 and the pre-Robin Hood period challenge it. — Bill Simmons
- Pitt and Fincher receive no; an early-Paltrow proposal is rejected as incompatible with the definition, and American Beauty is preferred for Spacey. — Bill Simmons
- The French Revolution is preferred for decapitations and Dante for the deadly sins. — Bill Simmons
Displaying discussions 1 - 12 of 21 in total
Films in the archive
Driving Miss Daisy
1989
Lean on Me
1989
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
1991
Se7en
1995
The Dark Knight
2008
The Shawshank Redemption
1994
Unforgiven
1992