In the latest issue of Empire, now on shelves, our Big Interview is with Russell Crowe, star of the (really rather good) film version of State of Play and all-round acting titan. While we had him, though, we decided to ask a bit about upcoming projects, and here's a little of what he had to say. First up, the formerly Nottingham and probably currently titled Robin Hood

"The challenge is to make a great film. There's no point in making the second-best Robin Hood movie. If we are going to do it, we have to do it with the thought in mind that we've got the chance of making the best Robin Hood movie ever. Doing a Robin Hood movie is a childhood dream; doing a bad Robin Hood movie - that doesn't come into the dream. It's got to be fully realised and really worth the effort - as we sit and talk it's been 18 months of effort, and that's the sort of stuff that people don't see or quantify."

He also said that his archery is coming along, which is comforting. But then there's his hoped-for biopic of Bill Hicks - truth or myth?

"It's a labour of love. it's been a couple of years so far, just discussing all the different possibilities and working on a script. Because you could approach it and just do a straightforward biopic, but that doesn't respect who he is and what he had to say. There's a very different theory that Bill Hicks was in fact a prophet, and that the things he said 20 years ago are still relevant now. Like he said, 'Don't vote in George Bush Sr because there are a whole lot of Bushes in Texas...' You can go through the stuff he was saying then and it's actually shocking, because it's like he was talking yesterday."

Click cover for more details on this month's issue

He also said that he was open to the idea of playing Captain Jack Aubrey again should a Master and Commander sequel ever get off the ground - pick up this month's Empire for the full interview.