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Sherlock Holmes Sequel in Jeopardy?

Posted by Richard Head

Monday January 4, 2010

Guy RitchieGUY Ritchie’s plans for a Sherlock Holmes sequel are in jeopardy after Robert Downey Jr. claimed the character could be portrayed as gay.

Andrea Plunket, who holds the US copyright to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s literary creation, is unhappy with comments made by Downey that Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson could be lovers.

And Plunkett says if Ritchie and the screenwriters want to take the character — who is played by Downey in the current movie — in that direction she will not allow a follow-up film.

“I hope this is just an example of Mr. Downey’s black sense of humor,” she said. “It would be drastic, but I would withdraw permission for more films to be made if they feel that is a theme they wish to bring out in the future.

“I am not hostile to homosexuals, but I am to anyone who is not true to the spirit of the books.”

Plunket’s worries were sparked after Downey said in an interview with US talk show host David Letterman that Sherlock could be considered a “butch homosexual”.

It is not the first time Downey has spoken about the implied “bromance” between Holmes and Watson — who is played by Jude Law.

“I think the word bromance is so passe,” he said. “We are two men who happen to be roommates who wrestle a lot and share a bed.”

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  • Kitty

    YES. thank the Lord that the woman has sense. i hope she kills this movie franchise. that, OR, finds a REAL actor to play sherlock holmes, since clearly robert downey jr. does not understand him at ALL.

    • David

      woman…..shut up……

  • http://n/a Think

    It seems to me Andrea Plunket is over reacting, clearly RDJ was making an a joke, and anyways, what wrong with a little homoerotica-bromance?

  • Jess

    Honestly, there are meant to be many interpretations of a book. The older Sherlock Holmes shows stuck with the book exactly; it’s time for some freedom. This movie wouldn’t be so popular without the way Robert plays Sherlock. Besides it was just a joke.
    Anyway, Sherlock play by Benedict Cumberbatch is just as ‘eccentric’ that’s what makes it fun.
    If I was just a smart guy being a jerk, there would be no fun in it and it wouldn’t be nearly as interesting, the ‘crazy and gay’ Sherlock is too fun to watch.
    She needs to realize that as we progress forward we want to see newer versions of our favorite books. I appreciate the books, I actually really enjoy reading them, but sometimes you wonder what of this was in the 21st century, or what if he was gay, or what would happen if he did that hot this. People want to see those versions; especially of you have such an eccentric character such as Sherlock. Sharlock could ne in so many time periods and still have an essence of the Conan Doyle Sherlock, but be new, fresh, and fun.
    She needs to move on.