Colin O'Donoghue, best known for playing Captain Hook on ABC's Once Upon a Time, is trading one legendary forest for another. The actor is joining the cast of MGM+'s Robin Hood for its second season, and he's ready to trade his hook for a crown.
During a recent panel at Fan Expo Canada in Toronto, moderated by Collider's Maggie Lovitt, O'Donoghue shared new details about his character. He revealed that he'll be playing Prince Richard, who—spoiler alert—eventually becomes King Richard. Unlike the scheming Prince John, O'Donoghue's character is a good guy, though the actor jokingly admitted he's not thrilled about the look.
“That's why I've got this stupid beard,” O'Donoghue said, referring to his character's rugged medieval appearance. “I've actually trimmed it for this weekend. It was even bigger than this, and I hate it.” The actor is currently filming in Serbia, which he humorously noted is “obviously Sherwood Forest.”
O'Donoghue's casting was announced in July 2026, alongside James Purefoy and Luke Roberts. The series stars Jack Patten as Robin Hood, Lauren McQueen as Marian, Marcus Fraser as Little John, Angus Castle-Doughty as Friar Ruck, and Sean Bean as the Sheriff of Nottingham. Season 1 premiered in November 2025, and the show has already carved out a niche for itself with its gritty take on the classic tale.
For fans of Once Upon a Time, this casting is a bit of a homecoming. The fantasy series heavily featured Robin Hood, though O'Donoghue's Hook rarely crossed paths with the outlaw. During the panel, he joked that he “hates Sean Maguire,” who played Robin on OUAT, even as he lamented the character's fate on the show.
O'Donoghue's new role places him in the historical context of King Richard I, not Shakespeare's Richard III, and Purefoy will play King Henry II. This is the Middle Ages, after all, and the series promises a rugged, unpolished take on the era.
The Robin Hood revival is part of a broader trend of the legendary outlaw's resurgence. A24's The Death of Robin Hood and Paul Greengrass's upcoming film The Uprising, starring Andrew Garfield, are also exploring the myth. It seems audiences can't get enough of stories about stealing from the rich and giving to the poor.
For more on O'Donoghue's career, check out our coverage of his other projects, including his role in the Civil War drama The Gray House. And if you're a fan of fantasy, you might enjoy our list of joyful fantasy movies or our roundup of urban fantasy video games.
Stay tuned for more updates on Robin Hood Season 2 as production continues.
