Anatomy of a Hollywood tentpole: though “Sherlock Holmes 2” is deep into production, apparently some of the ideas within are still “in the process.”
Or at least that’s how actress Rachel McAdams tells it when asked if she’s going to appear alongside Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law in the Guy Ritchie-directed 3D sequel to the immensly successful (and surprisingly enjoyable) “Sherlock Holmes.”
A few months ago producer Joel Silver said that Rachel McAdams would reprise her Irene Adler role from film one, but on the press junket for “Morning Glory,” McAdams told MTV she wasn’t sure if she’d be returning.
“It’s kind of all still in the process,” she said, unsure of whether she’ll return to shoot what sounds like it’ll amount to little more than a small cameo if she does. “It’s hard to say, because Irene Adler only appeared in one of the stories of Doyle’s reservoir of activities. They’re still doing script work, and we’ll see. If I do, it won’t be a very big thing. It’s not a lead part, but we’ll find out quickly.”
Is this McAdams’ nice, polite, Canadian way of saying probably no — “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” star Noomi Rapace is the new female lead after all — or is ‘SH2’ simply one of those classic tentpoles (like the recent “Iron Man” films) that are essentially being written on the set? (Worked for ‘IM1,’ failed for ‘IM2’). Written this time by husband/wife duo Kieran and Michele Mulroney (who wrote the indie “Paper Man” of all things and it’s their only other screenwriting credit so far), “Sherlock Holmes 2” is set to hit theaters Dec 16, 2011 in 3D (presumably in that “new and improved post-conversion 3D” everyone magically expects to appear next year). Jared Harris (“Mad Men,” “I Shot Andy Warhol“) will play the villainous role of Moriarty and Stephen Fry co-stars as Sherlock’s older brother, Mycroft.
