MAY Day is set to become Robin Hood Day across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, with the launch of the £110m Russell Crowe epic about the city's legendary outlaw.

The city's tourism authorities are negotiating with the film's makers, Universal Pictures, to bring parts of the movie set and costumes to the city for the month of the film's launch in May 2010.

The Bank Holiday will also include a pageant and jousting at Nottingham Castle, children's activities and historical walks around the city.

The Ridley Scott film, with a cast that also includes Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian and Matthew Macfadyen as the Sheriff of Nottingham, is due to be released on May 14.

Events will take place in the city and county during that month.

A spokesperson for Universal said: "We will definitely be doing something around Nottingham for the film's launch. It would be crazy not to."

On the weekend after the film comes out, several local combat artists who took part in the movie will gather at Nottingham Castle to recreate fight stunts from the film.

Meanwhile, there will be a medieval reenactment at Rufford Country Park and a costumed encampment around the Major Oak at the Sherwood Forest nature reserve.

Experience Nottinghamshire is leading a partnership including the city and county councils, EM Media and Visit Britain to negotiate with Universal.

Helen Leach, communications leader for Experience Nottinghamshire said: "There will be a lot of Robin Hood experiences going on throughout the city and county. The councils are both really behind the project. We have a huge plan of activity and both Nottingham and Notts are really behind the project."

The city's current Sheriff of Nottingham, Coun Leon Unczur, said: "We're going to have a big splash. We're still in the process of planning it at the moment."

The Sheriff's Commission is also consulting on a permanent attraction to replace Tales of Robin Hood, although this will not be open by May.

However, Stephen Barker, director of communications at Nottingham City Council, said he hoped Robin Hood Day would become a permanent fixture on the city's calendar.

"There's an aspiration to rename May Day Robin Hood Day every year," he said. "Robin Hood is a globally recognised tale. It's why Nottingham is known around the world."

The events planned for 2010 are expected to generate millions of pounds of investment for Notts and Nottingham, as tourists flock to the home of the legend.

The film's trailer was released this week. It shows Russell Crowe, playing Robin, striding out of the sea, scrambling through woodland and firing arrows. The all-action style is reminiscent of his Gladiator collaboration with Ridley Scott.

At one point called 'Nottingham,' the film is far darker than many of its movie predecessors.

The plot sees King Richard die early on, thus removing any hope of his eventual return to restore order, as has been the case in many of the other Robin Hood adaptations.

Instead, Robin is forced to face the twin threats of King John and his knights – including the villainous Gisborne-like character Godfrey, played by Mark Strong – and the invading French forces.

The film was all shot in the UK and although much of the filming took place at three locations – Freshwater West in Wales, Bourne Wood in Surrey and Pinewood Studios – a couple of exterior shots were filmed at Sherwood Forest.

"It was fantastic. It was a really good film to work on," said Darren Mitchell, 38, from Mapperley, one of five Notts-based combat artists who worked on the movie.

"It has the potential to be one of the biggest Robin Hood films ever. Ridley Scott really enjoyed making it; you could see it in his face.

"There were some amazing moments. In one of the battle scenes, we faced 150 horses charging towards us. It was hair-raising but the film-makers knew how to protect us."

A medieval castle was built in the middle of Surrey to be filmed being attacked by a £60,000 battering ram.

"The castle was built from scratch," said Darren. "From the front it looked spot on but round the back it was all scaffolding."

County Council leader Councillor Kay Cutts said: "We are delighted that Ridley Scott has chosen to make a movie about our Robin Hood.

"The movie – which I have no doubt will be a major success – will be brilliant for Nottinghamshire's tourism industry."

Mike Baulcombe, tourism leader at Experience Nottinghamshire said: "Currently, revenue from visitors to Nottingham and Notts is worth around £1.4bn each year, generated by over 35m visitors, and we expect this to significantly increase due to the national and international interest the film will attract."