Robert Downey Jr. to be Sherlock Holmes ?!
EW.com reports that Robert Downey Jr. is considering a role in Guy Ritchie’s upcoming Sherlock Holmes movie. Some will undoubtedly says that casting an American in what is a quintessential English role is sacrilege, but then it’s not as if we haven’t been here before is it?
Listing previous actors who have played the part is like rolling off a who’s who of world cinema, with names such as Ian Richardson (Scottish), Richard Roxburgh (Australian) and Christopher Plummer (Canadian) on the list, it’s safe to say that this isn’t new ground.
Downey is in demand in Hollywood right now following the success of “Iron Man“. He is already wanted to play Hugh Hefner in Brett Ratner’s Hefner biopic, “Playboy“, and also for Gary Ross‘ “Dog Years” and the detective film “Travis McGee“.
The only problem I can see is his busy schedule
Downey Jr. will next be seen in Ben Stiller war comedy “Tropic Thunder“, scheduled to hit theaters on August 15, 2008.
Guy Ritchie Directing “Sherlock Holmes”
Guy Ritchie has signed on to write and direct a reimagination of Sherlock Holmes for Warner Bros.
The film will based on Lionel Wigram’s forthcoming comic which reinvents Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic 19th century detective character as a more action-oriented creation. Some of Holmes’ more eccentric abilities such as boxing and swordfighting come into play much more.
Holmes has been portrayed on film and TV more than any other fictional character, with more than 75 actors having played the London detective in 200 films and TV shows since 1900.
Ritchie will rewrite and polish Michael Johnson’s script. Neil Marshall (”The Descent,” “Doomsday“) was previously on board to direct.
