Amateur Holmesian Scholarship

It’s not just the Russians who are putting together a new Holmes series, it seems that Dr Who scribes Steve Moffat and Mark Gattis have opted a one hour pilot for the BBC about Sherlock Holmes as a 21st century setting. It’s been rumoured by the Daily Mail that Benedict Cumberbatch (right) will be playing Holmes, no word on other possible cast members.

A modern day Holmes series is something I’ve always wanted to do, not just because you could have Holmes being very ambiguous concerning his sexuality and also because I think he’d be the type of person to own a very battered car that’s not only full of junk but he collects speeding tickets and upon arrival at a crime scene he hands over a wad of them to Lestrade.

I imagine the BBC are looking for their version of ‘House’ but rather than create a Holmes-esque character they’re pumped to go for Holmes himself, and let’s face it they’ve had limited success with making their own Holmes series set in the timeline of the books.

I think Benedict Cumberbatch is an excellent choice for Holmes (if that part is true), he was spectacular as Stephen Hawking in ‘Hawking’ and he certainly looks more like who I’d have in mind if I was casting Holmes (rather than a certain Mr Downey Jr). He’s also in a film I really want to see called ‘Stuart: A Life Backwards’ and was very good in ‘Tipping the Velvet’.

Yes, definitely a great casting choice and since Moffat is great friends with a certain David Tennant and enjoys casting him in things, perhaps Tennant is going to throw one doctor off for another (just check out the picture on the right of him from ‘Bright Young Things’, doesn’t that just scream WATSON?)

In fact, here’s a second picture of him as the not very nice Ginger with a certain Mr Mark Gattis, perhaps we can start a pressure group… I think I’d much rather see Tennant as Victorian!Watson rather than modern day but I’d be just as happy either way.

(The pics from ‘Bright Young Things’ I got from this website)

Jude Law is now apparently in negociations to play Watson in Guy Ritchie’s film (I’ve seen him described as Guy Rich-Tea which I think I’m going steal). The film is scheduled for release in 2010… now a lot can happen between now and then so let’s keep our fingers crossed shall we?

Jude Law is in negotiations to star opposite Robert Downey Jr. in Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes.

According to Variety, the actor is expected to finalise a deal to portray the famous Baker Street detective’s sidekick Dr. John H. Watson.

Ritchie’s film will take inspiration from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic novels and Lionel Wigram’s comic book series.

Sherlock Holmes is scheduled for release in 2010

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/a130606/law-in-talks-for-ritchies-holmes.html

Colin Farrell is now being linked to Guy Ritchie’s project, I’ve only seen Farrell in a few films but know enough of his reputation to see that they’re going for sex appeal here. I don’t think he’s right for Watson in the slightest… and I take issue with this snippet saying that Watson is ‘less incisive’ which is basically a byline for ‘stupid’. I think I shall take comfort from the fact I very much doubt they’re going to put Watson in as the comic relief, he’ll be reduced to sidekick again but hopefully sidekick with brains. Also, if Watson is going to be the ‘hunk’ it means he’s there to be the lady magnet to Holmes’s dubious sexuality… at least, I hope that’s the case.

According to sources for JoBlo, Irish hunk Colin Farrell is in talks to star as Dr. Watson in Guy Ritchie’s upcoming reinvention of “Sherlock Holmes”.

As of right now no one is “officially” signed on to play Watson, a role
that Russell Crowe was erroneously linked to the other week. Certainly
Farrell seems an odd choice to play Holmes less incisive documentarian.

Robert Downey Jr. is officially set as Holmes, Mark Strong is pretty
much set for a key role, and rumors of Crowe as Professor Moriarty are
still out there and have yet to be officially commented on.

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news08/080910q.php

Seems Russell Crowe is still being linked, but to be honest I can see him as Moriarty – he’s a good actor… sometimes.

After reading something in ‘The Sun’ that Sienna Miller is to star in Guy Ritchie’s Holmes travesty film, I did a quick hunt around the ‘net to find a slightly better source than ‘The Sun’. I found this article about the casting plus another worrying quote from the man himself:

“Sherlock Holmes is a bad ass in this movie alright.”

On a slightly related topic, I suggest you check out Mark Kermode’s rant about Guy Ritchie’s new film ‘RocknRolla’ (apparently an executive at WB said that the film is funny in parts and very British… maybe WB will loose faith in Ritchie and won’t let him go near another film) on his blog.