Monday
01Sep2008
Russell Crowe to Play Watson to Robert Downey's Sherlock Holmes?
Monday, September 1, 2008 at 11:21AM 
This would be a major casting coup for the upcoming
Sherlock Holmes movie if there's an ounce of
truth to it.
The Sun, known mostly for its cheeky paparazzi
photos and rumors (or rumours) about British celebs, says that
Russell Crowe wants to play Dr. Watson in
Guy Ritchie's new Holmes movie that will
feature
Robert Downey, Jr. in the starring role.
The story goes that since his reverse Robin Hood movie,
Nottingham, will be delayed until next spring,
Crowe is anxious to work and wants to play the master detective's right hand man.
A source tells the Sun, "Russell wants the part, Guy wants Russell. All
they've got left to do is dot the i's and cross the t's.
But that's not all: "(M)ore big names are expected on
board when shooting starts on the movie next month." I had no idea we were
shooting it next month, for starters, and I'm not sure how much room is left for
big names, frankly. It's not exactly a big ensemble piece.
The movie isn't based on the actual Arthur Conan Doyle
books, but rather a new comic book that reportedly amps up the action a little
bit, focusing on Holmes' training as a martial artist and boxer. I'm a tad
concerned that they might over-modernize it and that in the process Sherlock
Holmes will lose those traits that made him so interesting to readers, so I
guess that means I'll have to pick up the comic book out of sheer curiosity.
Here's an interesting bump in the road as far as this
casting goes: Do you remember the whispers that Downey's Kirk Lazarus in
Tropic
Thunder was a thinly-veiled spoof on Crowe? It got to the point that Downey
actually had to address the question, and he of course downplayed it. But if
Crowe thinks it's a shot at him, well, I guess we all know he has a pretty short
fuse.
It's certainly great casting if the story holds up, and
actually a bit surprising; when was the last time Crowe played a supporting
role?
Reader Comments (6)
He was supporting in American Gangster.
It might all be a scheme to get close to Robert Downey and when he does ...
As you said, Russel doesn't do supporting roles.
Well, I'd say Crowe was a co-lead in American Gangster. After all, he was the hero.
Russell does supporting roles that are the very best! He did a supporting role in AMERICAN GANGSTER, and just finished his supporting role with Leonardo Dicaprio in BODY OF LIES coming later this year. So, he will do supporting roles if the role is first-rate. He is that fussy. But, of course, he is a fantastic leading actor as well.
Dee
I'm not sure I'd call either one of those "supporting" roles, though. He was supporting in L.A. Confidential.
I would agree that they were co-leads.
Also I belive that Crowe could easily turn a supporting role into a co-lead.
He can put a strong mark on a film without too much screen time, as he did in Master & Commander.