Hugh Jackman is no stranger to physical transformations, but his latest one caught even longtime fans off guard. The actor has reappeared on screen in a way that made many people do a double take — and some didn’t even recognize him at first.
Jackman stars in the upcoming film The Death of Robin Hood, a bold reimagining of the legendary outlaw’s story. A newly released trailer reveals the 57-year-old actor looking nothing like the polished, clean-cut version audiences have grown used to in recent years. Instead, he appears weathered, hardened, and almost unrecognizable.
Gone are the sharp suits and trimmed hair. In their place: long gray hair, a thick gray-and-white beard, and a rugged presence that feels closer to a mountain man than a fairytale hero. Wrapped in fur garments and moving with a heavy, battle-worn intensity, this Robin Hood looks like a man who’s lived through too much.
The reaction was instant.
As soon as the trailer dropped earlier this month, social media lit up. Fans flooded comment sections, stunned by how drastically Jackman’s appearance had changed. Many admitted they didn’t realize it was him until later in the trailer.
The transformation comes at a moment when Jackman is already riding a wave of praise. He’s still earning strong reactions for his performance in Song Sung Blue, where he starred opposite Kate Hudson, and he’s been a familiar face throughout this year’s awards season. That momentum has only fueled excitement for what’s coming next.
Produced by A24, The Death of Robin Hood is set to arrive later this year. While details of the plot are still being kept under wraps, the trailer makes one thing clear: this is not the Robin Hood of storybooks. It’s darker, rougher, and stripped of romance.
Jackman isn’t carrying the film alone. The cast also includes Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgård, Murray Bartlett, and other acclaimed actors, adding to the growing anticipation around the project.
Fans didn’t hold back with their reactions. One compared the character to Jackman’s iconic Wolverine, calling it “Logan, but as Robin Hood.” Others praised the intensity of the look, saying the beard, hair, and costume made him appear decades older. Several viewers simply wrote that they couldn’t wait to see it.
Some comments were even more blunt. A few joked that the styling made him look ancient. Others said the transformation alone was enough to sell them on the film.
Whether this role becomes another awards contender remains to be seen. But one thing is already clear: Hugh Jackman has once again proven that he’s willing to disappear completely into a character — even if it means shocking everyone along the way.
