Sacha Baron Cohen will play Holmes, and Will Ferrell, Watson, in a comedic take on Sherlock Holmes for super-producer Judd Apatow. To avoid confusion, last month we reported on Guy Ritchie’s forthcoming, unrelated “Bond-like” take of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic English sleuth for Warner Bros.
No director is attached, and the flick, which see the two comedic stars re-teaming for the second time after their smash, Talladega Nights, is untitled at this time. Etan Cohen (Idiocracy, Tropic Thunder, no relation to Sacha) is writing the script for Columbia Pictures.
If it were not for the involvement of Judd Apatow and Etan Cohen, I could easily see this project wandering off into the realm of broad family comedy and “hang glider hi-jinks.” Talladega Nights, which Apatow produced, has its “low brow” and “class-ist” detractors, but there is some really smart, subversive comedy and writing therein. Also, Walker Texas Ranger. It’s tied with Stranger Than Fiction as my favorite Will Ferrell film thus far, and if Ferrell and Cohen can once again match or top their performances, their Sherlock Holmes could conjure Mel Brooks’s Young Frankenstein…or Beavis and Butt-Head. All counts of “Apatow-fatigue” aside, we’re looking forward to this one either way.
Discuss: What do you think of the casting? Anticipating this version or Guy Ritchie’s (with Robert Downey Jr. rumored for Holmes) more?
via Variety
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:04 pm
VERY NICE> though i’m not to exited to see will ferrel after the couple of catastrophe’s he has done….
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:16 pm
RDJ FTW
Thankyoufor Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Is this before or after Rogen’s Green Hornet? oi vey. I swear, these pot heads are ruining Hollywood.
Note to execs, no one really finds these guys entertaining. Quit pandering to the Not another teen movie/meet the spartans audience and why not pay some real screenwriters/producers, and actors to deliver genuinely good stuff. thanks.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I must admit I find this to be full of potential. I’m not usually a fan of Will Farrell movies, but I absolutely love Taladega Nights and Stranger then Fiction is a exceptional movie. I personally would like to see Will Farrell do more films like it. He has real talent which is unfortuantely being squandered because people like to watch him dress up in funny outfits.
These two are quite possibly two of the funniest people on the planet right now and hopefully this will be as funny as it can be. *crosses fingers*
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
This film has a better chance of being made sooner and be more interesting and funnier for a wider audience.
I live in the UK and no one cares anymore about Sherlock Holmes anymore, the same as how much they like a Guy Ritchie film.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I really like the casting but does anyone else agree with me when I say I’m starting to lose faith/interest in the Apatow group? They’ve made some great movies but I hate how his name has become a brand. I still love all the stuff he does but a lot of post superbad movies that have his name thrown on it have not been up to snuff if you ask me.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I kinda need this movie to be real.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:15 pm
i hate it when two similar movies get released close to the same time. I was really looking forward to Guy Ritchie’s movie and I am scared that this one will take away from it.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Sounds like Johnny English
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:26 pm
This sounds great. Anything with the name “Apatow” on it is worth my time, especially a project with three actors that are in high demand right now.
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Dude I am as art house/indie/one man showish as anyone in LA, but jesus I want to see this movie. I want to see Step Brothers, I want to see Bruno, I want to see every piece of crap Ferrel lobs out. I am in for live Mr. Ferrel keep them coming.
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
what person in their right mind would be waiting for this more than RDJ?
Will Ferrels adlibs are not funny whatsoever.
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Sounds very interesting. I also like that Ferrell is playing the side-kick this time. Imagining Cohen as Sherlock Holmes with the pipe is already making me laugh.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:13 pm
GOD NO.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle must be turning in his grave…
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:06 pm
i still dont get what waas so great about talladega
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:28 am
“hang glider hi-jinks.”
Is that a reference to “Young Sherlock Holmes” I see?
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:06 am
If you don’t get what was so funny about Talladega Nights, then you are probably a NASCAR fan, cause those were the only ones who didn’t get it. ‘If you’re not first, your last!”
Can’t wait for this movie. Great casting and could be a funny premise if they do it right.