Crowe's Robin Hood movie delayed

Russell Crowe is set to play a sympathetic Sheriff

Production on the new Robin Hood film has been postponed indefinitely according to US trade newspaper Hollywood Reporter.

Directed by Ridley Scott Nottingham the movie is a twist on the classic tale starring Russell Crowe as the Sheriff alongside Sienna Miller as Maid Marian.

Universal Pictures cited script concerns, location logistics and a potential actors' strike for the delay.

Filming was due to begin this August but may not resume until Spring 2009.

Explaining the shutdown Universal, which is making the film, said the "cloud of the SAG strike" led to the postponement.

The film company also stated the current version of the screenplay "is not yet where the studio and filmmakers want it to be in terms of realizing the full value of the story".

The third key factor Universal outlined was "the film's forest locations need to be green".