Brad Pitt Joining 'Sherlock Holmes' for Re-Shoots?

We're of the opinion that re-shoots are generally a bad thing. Certainly, there are exceptions, but it's hard not to get a little concerned when a movie that's in the can - and only about four months away from its big debut - has to make room for something else. It's particularly bad when you're forced to re-cast the movie to accomplish it. Sherlock Holmes comes out on December 25th, and a new rumor being spread by Digital Spy not only has Guy Ritchie calling Jude Law and Robert Downey, Jr. back in for ten days of shooting, but there's also word that Holmes' bitter rival, Professor Moriarty is suddenly in the movie. And he's being played by Brad Pitt. Now, before we all get ahead of ourselves, this is hardly the most verified story of the day. It could be totally bogus. And I hope it is, because Pitt doesn't really leap to mind when I think of the only guy who is Sherlock Holmes' intellectual equal. Then again, I don't especially like the casting in this movie to begin with, so this is in line with the history of this project. In the first film of a proposed series, Moriarty was only supposed to receive obligatory mentions and possibly a cameo, building for a deeper conflict later. According to Digital spy's source, "It was an oversight in the film not to make a bigger deal about Moriarty. He is mentioned as Holmes's arch enemy, but the bosses wanted Guy to make more of him." There is a villain already, Lord Blackwood, played by Mark Strong. Did the studio just think he wasn't a big enough deal? And how greatly will his role be diminished? Pitt, of course, has worked with Guy Ritchie before, so if he really was in a lurch to find a Moriarty, then I can see Pitt coming in at the last minute. As if the re-shoots wouldn't be troubling enough, what does it say about a film that completely gets its villain wrong and thinks after the fact that you can just throw in some scenes with Brad Pitt to fix it? Again, it's just a rumor and I hope it's not true. If it is, this movie's in big trouble because you can't fix what's fundamentally wrong with a film in ten days of re-shoots.

Update on Monday, August 17, 2009 at 10:26AM by Get The Big Picture

Well, this rebuttal didn't take long. A rep for Warner Bros. has already shot down the Brad Pitt as Moriarty rumor, and if they'd done it an hour earlier, it would have saved me so much time. Damn it.

"The report in today’s London Mirror is completely inaccurate. Brad Pitt is not joining the cast of Sherlock Holmes and we’re extremely pleased with the production of the film. As planned, it will be released on Christmas Day, 2009. In order to complete the movie, we’ve scheduled a few days on set to shoot a couple of additional scenes, obtain pick-up shots, and perfect some of the visual effects elements, all of which is standard filmmaking practice."

Comments

[annonymous]

It's not true Warner has already issued a statement saying it isn't.

[W]

It is mostly additional photography. The re-shoots were ordered based on quality of a few shots, problems with background, grain, etc. Nothing is really changing.

[Lengthy Johnson]

Pitt would probably have been too expensive to cast as Moriarty in a sequel anyway.

As I've said before, I prefer studios taking the time and spending the money to re-shoot when necessary, rather than busking it.

[SEAN]

WOW thank GOD!!!!

Fuckin Brad Pitt would be horrible, but Iam worrying about the reshoots and I do wonder how the hell this rumor even start???
-someone should get fired over that bit of false gossip lol

Anyways well see how it goes I dont have high hopes but I love Mark Strong (most underrated actor in the biz) and Downey and Law are great too