Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment have won a competitive bidding war for the spec script "Nottingham" as a Russell Crowe film vehicle reports Variety.

Penned by "Sleeper Cell" creators Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris, the story is a revisionist version of the Robin Hood story. In this version Robin Hood was less virtuous and the sheriff more noble than previously depicted.

There's also a love triangle between Robin Hood, Maid Marion and Nottingham's sheriff. Crowe is expected to receive a rich deal valued at a minimum of $20 million to play the sheriff.

Shooting is slated to begin either at year's end or early 2008.