You’d think these “competing projects” would be a rare occurrence, but they are becoming more and more commonplace (at least in the development stages they are).
Two studios and two versions of Sherlock Holmes are in the making. A month after Warner Bros. announced that Guy Ritchie would be breaking the usual mold of the man with an unhealthy tobacco habit (a comic book version Sherlock Holmes ), now comes word that Columbia Pictures have their version in the pipeline.
Variety reports that the Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby pairing of Sacha Baron Cohen and Will Ferrell will portray Holmes and Watson in a goofball version of fictional detective and sidekick. Etan Cohen is penning the script, with Judd Apatow and Jimmy Miller to produce. A call out for directors is currently in the works.
Is there a market for Sherlock Holmes? I would not bet the house on it. is there are market for a hardcore, gritty version of an old school detective? Perhaps. Is there a market for a spoof version featuring box office money making talent? I say bring out the magnifying glass and the deerstalker cap. Advantage goes to: the Columbia Pictures project.