How do you like your Holmes?

Sherlock Holmes, the world’s greatest detective, is about to hit the big screen in a big way. We get to see Holmes hit the screen twice in the next two years!  Currently in varying stages of production are two very different takes on the iconic character created by Arthur Conan Doyle. One is set to be a very serious take on the adventures of the detective and his trusty sidekick, Dr Watson.  The other, a not so serious comedy chronicling the humorous adventures of Holmes and Watson.  They are currently on track to release within a year of each other. So, how do you like your Holmes? Lets take a look at what we know so far.

Shooting has begun in London for Guy Ritchie’s currently un-named take on Holmes.  It is said to be a ”big budget action movie.”  Robert Downey Jr Stars as Sherlock Holmes himself, with Jude Law as Holmes’ dedicated sidekick Dr Watson.  Ritchie claims the movie will stay true to Doyle’s version of the iconic detective.

“We’re trying to be as authentic as we can to the original Sherlock Holmes.  We’ve tried to include a bit more Conan Doyle in it.”

Downey Jr as Holmes

Robert Downey Jr says that this will be a fresh take on Holmes.  He says he will focus less on the “repressed English side,” and more on his status as a “Bohemian” and a “Patriot.”  The film is said to include plenty of fighting, as Holmes is adept at bare knuckle boxing and an unusual form of jujitsu.  But it will also explore the “co-dependency” and genuine love between Holmes and Watson.  Sounds like a pretty serious, straight forward action movie.  Potentially another huge franchise for Downey Jr.  Some guys just have all the luck, don’t they? But, it’s good to see he is finally risen to true “superstar” status.  He is a fine actor.  I’m sure this version of Sherlock Holmes will be exciting.  It is currently slated for a November ‘09 release.

What if you love Sherlock Holmes, but you just don’t like action movies? Well, Judd Apatow, the comedy mastermind behind “The 40 Year Old Virgin” and “Superbad”  is co-producing an untitled comedic take on Detective Holmes and Dr Watson.  The film, set for release some time in early 2010, stars Sacha Baron Cohen as the legendary detective.  His sidekick, Dr Watson, will be played by Will Ferrell.  These two teaming up seems to have studio exec’s very excited about the potential for future success.  Columbia Pictures co-president Matt Tolmach told the industry paper

“Sacha and Will are two of the funniest and most talented guys on the planet, and having them take on these two iconic characters is frankly hilarious.”

It is indeed! Alone, these two have played some very funny characters.  And together on screen in “Talladega Nights:  The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,”  they were comedy gold.  The two play very well off each other stylistically.  The movie has been scripted by Etan Cohen, who has written on t.v’s “King of the Hill”  and Ben Stiller’s recent hit action spoof “Tropic Thunder.”  This movie certainly seems to have all the right people in all the right places. So, can we expect more comedy gold? Only time will tell, but right now I’d bet this movie will be very very funny.

So, how do you like your Holmes?  Is it possible to have 2 very different franchises, released within a one year span of each other, based on the same character?  Which one are you most looking forward to?