The series was created by Dominic Minghella and Foz Allan, with Minghella serving as chief writer after previously creating the successful ITV comedy-drama Doc Martin.

Robin Hood was specifically designed to run in the same Saturday evening family drama slot as Doctor Who, filling the gap between series of that show.

Jonas Armstrong's casting as the lead was first reported by the Daily Mirror on 18 February 2006, before being officially confirmed by the BBC on 3 April 2006.

The show's third series introduced new characters including Kate (Joanne Froggatt), Isabella (Lara Pulver), Friar Tuck (David Harewood), Prince John (Toby Stephens) and Archer (Clive Standen), following the departures of Lucy Griffiths, Harry Lloyd and Anjali Jay at the end of series two.

In August 2008 it was announced that lead actor Jonas Armstrong would leave the show at the end of series three, and the series was ultimately cancelled after that season following the departure of multiple cast members.

Writer Sally Wainwright was asked in early 2009 to oversee a creative revamp for a potential fourth series, but despite this the BBC never commissioned it.

Filming took place in Hungary, near Budapest, and the cast attended a specially-commissioned 'Hood academy' where they were trained in horse riding, sword skills and archery before shooting began.

The show was shot in high definition format and also broadcast on the BBC's BBC HD service.

The soundtrack, composed by Andy Price, was performed by the Danubia Symphony Orchestra at the Budapest Opera House, reflecting the production's base near Budapest, and was released on CD by EMI in November 2006.

Several episodes of the sketch show Dead Ringers, broadcast in February and March 2007, mocked Robin Hood for its anachronistic modern style and political references.

A tape theft story involving the production was publicized in the press just before the Radio Times ran its preview article for the series in late August 2006.