Hugh Jackman Reveals Why Phones Were Banned on His New Robin Hood Set

Hugh Jackman says there was one simple rule on the set of The Death of Robin Hood: no phones once the cast and crew left the makeup trailer.

The actor, who stars as an older, battle-worn version of the legendary outlaw, explained that the production made the choice because it was filming in remote and visually striking locations in Northern Ireland. The goal was to keep everyone present and immersed in the landscape rather than distracted by screens.

“We had a little rule that we would not be on our phones once we walked out of the makeup trailer just because we were in these epic locations,” Jackman said.

The rule fit the tone of the film, a darker reimagining of the Robin Hood legend directed by Michael Sarnoski, best known for Pig and A Quiet Place: Day One. Rather than the familiar swashbuckling hero, Jackman’s Robin Hood is portrayed as weary, damaged and reckoning with the violence of his past.

The Death of Robin Hood was shot over roughly 30 days in Northern Ireland and features Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgård, Noah Jupe and Murray Bartlett alongside Jackman. The film was released in theaters in June 2026 through A24.

Jackman’s no-phone policy is hardly unusual in film and television. Directors and actors have increasingly tried to limit digital distractions on set, especially on projects that rely on atmosphere, focus and ensemble chemistry. In this case, the rule appears to have been as much about respecting the setting as protecting performance.

It also reflects the production’s broader approach to the material. The Death of Robin Hood is not a glossy retelling of Sherwood Forest folklore, but a grim, reflective take on a character who has been retold for generations. The phone ban, Jackman suggested, helped the cast and crew stay in that world.