Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law; Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu; Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman; but how about Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly?
Yes, the beloved comedic duo – known for their dynamite turns in both Step Brothers and NASCAR pic Talladega Nights – are gearing up to bring us Sony’s Holmes and Watson, a fresh spin on Arthur Conan Doyle’s endearing characters that’s been in development since way back in 2008.
This time around, it’ll be Ferrell donning the deerstalker hat, and he’ll be cracking cases and generally reveling in 20th century London alongside Dr. John Watson (Reilly). If nothing else, it’ll make for a big departure from previous Holmes/Watson duos like the folks we mentioned, but we’re excited to see how one of Hollywood’s most bankable double acts bring to life the celebrated detective stories of Arthur Conan Doyle. Especially after watching the film’s first trailer.
While it certainly looks a bit silly and may not please those who find themselves enamored with the BBC series, there’s no denying that this will be a fun ride. I mean, seeing Reilly and Ferrell together again is worth the price of admission alone, with the actors displaying tremendous chemistry every single time they share the screen. Sure, this is far from the brilliant Sherlock we’re all used to, but a change of pace isn’t always a bad thing.
Other cast members in the film include Lauren Lapkus as Millie (a Holmes aficionado, no less), Rob Brydon, Kelly Macdonald, Rebecca Hall, Hugh Laurie and Ralph Fiennes of Harry Potter fame. All in all, it makes for an incredible ensemble, while we understand Etan Cohen will be calling the shots from behind the lens.
The long-in-development Holmes and Watson will sneak into theaters on December 21st, by which point audiences will also be heading out to see Bumblebee: The Movie and a little-known DC project called Aquaman on the big, big screen.