Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is a 1991 American swashbuckler film based on the English folk tale of Robin Hood and set in the 12th century. Directed by Kevin Reynolds and written by Pen Densham and John Watson, the film stars Kevin Costner as Robin, Morgan Freeman as Azeem, Christian Slater as Will Scarlett, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Marian and Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham. The film received mixed reviews from critics but was a box office success, becoming the second-highest-grossing film of 1991. Rickman received the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance.