Just how many hours did Jack Patten spend learning to shoot a bow and arrow for Robin Hood role?
Robin Hood star Jack Patten practiced shooting a bow and arrow for six hours a day for three weeks before he began shooting the new MGM+ series.
Jack Patten spent over 80 hours learning how to fire a bow and arrow for his role as Robin Hood.
The 28-year-old Australian actor portrays the English folklore hero in the new MGM+ series - an origins story set in the unforgiving Middle Ages.
Jack made the decision before filming began in Serbia to master, as best he could, Robin’s signature weapon and after three weeks of no-stop practice he became proficient shooting arrows.
He said: “I’d never shot a bow and arrow before. So from the get got I knew I needed to get on top of the bow and arrow stuff. I said, ‘When can you get me to Serbia to start my training?’
“If you’re going to play Robin Hood I think you need to know what you’re doing with a bow and arrow. That’s very important.
“I was at it for about four to six hours a day for three weeks by the time we were starting to shoot.
“It was very challenging. I’m blessed that I had an awesome stunt team that put up with somewhat crazy hours of wanting to train for it.
“It was challenging and humbling, but by the time we started rolling I think we were in a good place.”
Despite the intensive training, Jack admits he can’t hit a bullseye first go.
He added: “Give me three goes. My first one very rarely will it hit first time, the second time I’ve got a very good chance, depending on how far away I am, of course!”
Jack also relished getting to learn how to ride a horse for his role as Robin Hood.
He said: “It was all kind of challenging. I’d never really ridden a horse before. But I relished it. I was so pumped.”
Jack stars opposite former Hollyoaks actress Lauren McQueen as Maid Marian, Sean Bean as the Sheriff of Nottingham and Connie Nielsen as Eleanor of Aquitaine, as well as newcomer Henry Rowley as Will Gamewell.
Robin Hood is available to stream on MGM+ now.
