Franchises have become such an important part of a studio’s business model that second installments are starting to be prepared even before an initial entry in a potential series has been seen by the public. So it should come as no surprise that Warner Brothers are already developing a sequel to their yet to be released adventure Sherlock Holmes, featuring Robert Downey, Jr. as Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic sleuth and Jude Law as Holmes’ faithful assistant Dr. Watson.
The Hollywood Reporter states that the studio is getting ready to hire scripters Kieran and Michele Mulroney, who wrote the abandoned Justice League: Mortal superhero film for the studio, to develop a screenplay for a sequel. Surprisingly, though, the Mulroneys were not involved at all with the original film, which had run through the typewriters of Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham and Wigram and Simon Kinberg.
Even more surprising is the news that the producers have been talking with Brad Pitt to appear in the second film as Holmes’ arch-nemesis Professor Moriarty.There has already been some buzz that Moriarty makes an appearance in the first film, but a quick read of the script reveals that while he does show up, he remains in the shadows, never clearly seen.
With franchises for Holmes, Iron Man and a possible third one growing out of his upcoming Cowboys & Aliens, it looks as if Downey could be setting himself up with enough guaranteed work for years to come.
It’s way too soon to get excited over a sequel until I see the first, especially considering some of the advance plot elements are not sitting well with me. While I can accept Downey and Law as H & W, I am having a hard time picturing Brad Pitt as Moriarity, since he looks nothing like the original drawings, or Eric Portman’s portrayal during the Brett series. Time will tell.