As we’ve previously reported, Brett Ratner wants Robert Downey Jr. to portray American publisher Hugh Hefner in his biopic Playboy. EW has listed a few other projects that he’s currently rumored for, most notably Warner Bros. and Guy Ritchie’s upcoming big budget revamp of Sherlock Holmes. What else?
“In recent weeks, the 43-year old actor has had his eye on various projects, including Twentieth Century Fox’s Travis McGee (based on John D. MacDonald’s detective series), Warner Bros.’ Sherlock Holmes update from director Guy Ritchie, Gary Ross’ fantasy/comedy Dog Years at Universal…”
Director Gary Ross (Seabiscuit) has had Dog Years in the pipeline for several years now, with Jim Carrey attached at one point, but not a lot is known about it. John D. MacDonald’s novels featuring Travis McGee, a wistful Floridian gumshoe, “beach bum” and “playboy,” stretched across the ’60s, ’70s and early ’80s and are said to have inspired crime fiction writers like Elmore Leonard. The McGee character made it to theaters once before in 1970’s ill-received Darker Than Amber. Like Zodiac or Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, this war-chest of material sounds like it would play to Downey’s wittier strengths.
Of course, like McGee, Sherlock Holmes would also give Downey a second viable franchise at a studio to compliment Iron Man, as Warner Bros. is positioning the classic character as a James Bond type. EW didn’t specify whether the actor would be up for the title role per se; less likely, but Downey would make a cool Watson too. When all is said and done, however, it’s gotta be hard as hell to turn down Hefner.
Discuss: Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes, cool by you? Any fans of the Travis McGee detective stories?
June 13th, 2008 at 12:54 am
Downey would make a great Sherlock Holmes, but it seems like part for a Brit, especially with Ritchie directing.
Then again, Americas most iconic detective is played by a Welshman, so maybe it could work out.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:52 am
Brett Ratner is the worst thing since the nuke-proof refrigerator, so stay away from that overly air brushed, hunk of shit. I gotta go with Sherlock Holmes. I would love to see RDJ doing that, pipe in hand. That Travis McGee thing has probably got wheels though.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Why does any studio hire Ratner? He woould do a Playboy movie.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:09 am
It would be nice if anyone involved with making a Sherlock Holmes movie knew anything about Sherlock Holmes. Recent “re-imaginings” of Holmes have generally been disasters, and I see very little to make me think this might be an exception.
Holmes is supposed to be tall and thin as a rail; this probably lets Downey out, though I have no doubt he could pull it off if the script were good enough.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:57 am
The guy from House would be a lot better
June 13th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Robert Downey Jr. appears to be high demand these days. I
knew Iron Man would put him back at the top of the casting lists
and he deserves it. He’s exceedingly talented and nearly through
it all away. I’ll give any movie he’s in a chance. Sherlock Holmes?
Sure, why not, I can see him as the sleuth. I can see him as
Hugh Hefner too, but I hate that Ratner is attached to direct the
flick…I’ll be shocked if he pulls it off.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
If RDJ can pull off Chaplin he certainly can pull off Sherlock Holmes.
I hope he decides not to work with Ratner now that his career is going
in the right direction, he doesnt need another set back. I would like to see him play FBI Agent Pendergast from the Preston/Child books, now that would be a good franchise. I hope someone in Hollywood would pick up one of there books and start adapting them to film.
June 27th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
RDJ is a fine actor, and might be able to pull off Watson, but he it physically totally WRONG for Holmes, if anyone would bother to actually READ the original stories. He is not Holmes, he might make a great foe, but he is SO not Holmes. I will not say who I would cast, because I don’t want to give any ideas to Warners, LOL! However, I have the PERFECT Holmes in mind. DDL is too old, and again, not facially like Holmes, apart from the hooked nose. This might be barely okay as a film, but will probably BLOW as far as the Holmes Canon is concerned. I will be conflicted, because I liked Ritchie’s other films, but I am a ACD fan and a Holmes fan, and I don’t think it is going to work as a block buster Hollywood film with cart chase scenes and explosions. As for profanity, one profane word from Holmes, and I would leave the theatre and ask for my money back. Holmes is not the foul mouthed criminal type that made up Ritchie’s other films. The Holmes books are NOT fodder for a comic, they are literary classics, and should be treated as such. You can do such things respectfully, as with ‘Pride and Prejudice’. I wonder what the solid Holmes fans are going to think about all of this? I’ll wait for it to come out on Cable, but I wouldn’t pay to see it.
July 1st, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I can see Downey as Watson but certainly someone a tad more refined as Holmes…Jeremy Northam perhaps.
July 28th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
George Clooney would be a better Travis McGee