Amateur Holmesian Scholarship

Before Guy Ritchie’s film was set to open up against Planet 51, 2012 and The Tooth Fairy, now WB have announced that they are putting the release date back six weeks and will now release it on Christmas Day (at least in the US) where it will be up against Alvin and the Chipmunks 2, Disney’s Princess and the Pea and a yet untitled Nancy Meyers comedy.

I think the previous release date might have seen them struggling against the other films (seriously, who is the target audience for a Sherlock Holmes film?) I can’t see it having many problems with it’s new competition… although with it being Christmas and kids films being very popular at that time of year. Are WB worried and want to maximise their prophet? I don’t know, the release schedule thing is a bit of a tricky market.

Here is a grab of the previews shown at the Oscars, very brief Holmes clip at the beginning. We see Holmes fighting, talking to what looks like a very scantily clad Irene Adler and with his Watson.

Put the date in your diary, WB have announced that Guy Ritchie’s film will be released on November 20th 2009. It’s only other film released that week is an animated sci-fi film called ‘Planet 51‘.

The fact that it’s only competition will come from a children’s animated film (that admittedly looks fairly good fun) makes me wonder, is WB worrying about the film? The best that they could say about Richie’s ‘come back’ film ‘RocknRolla‘ was that it was very British and funny in parts, not the best endorsement from the studio that is producing your film!

It’s still a year away though so who knows what else might get a November ’09 release date?

I am quite pleased with ComingSoon.net‘s reporting of the film, it doesn’t say that Watson is stupid or that Irene Adler is Holmes’s love interest (albeit ‘tempestuous’ :S) – is it possible that someone has heard us Holmesians complaining over this asumption? Doesn’t mean to say the film doesn’t pander to these things, but we’ll have to wait and see. I find it quite suspicious that Lionel Wiggram has yet to publish the graphic novel this film is based on.

In the thriller, Downey Jr. brings the legendary detective to life as he has never been portrayed before. Jude Law stars as Holmes’ trusted colleague, Watson, a doctor and war veteran who is a formidable ally for Sherlock Holmes. Rachel McAdams stars as Irene Adler, the only woman ever to have bested Holmes and who has maintained a tempestuous relationship with the detective. Mark Strong stars as their mysterious new adversary, Blackwood. Kelly Reilly will play Watson’s love interest, Mary.