Talk of a sequel to last year’s Sherlock Holmes began even before the movie opened; and rumours of possible cast members, and plot-lines, have been rife ever since; but now that production is just on the horizon, official announcements are beginning to emerge.
A release date for the film was confirmed back in June, and the following month Jude Law (who plays Holmes’ sidekick Watson) confirmed that filming was due to begin later this year, but news broke today that the film’s female lead has now been officially cast; and is none other than Noomi Rapace.
Noomi’s name isn’t instantly recognizable to most people, despite the Swedish actress now being world famous, and adored by audiences and critics alike, for her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest; a performance which has earned her a great deal of notoriety, and allowed her to make the jump into English language movies (with Sherlock 2 being her first).
Barely any information has been given about the role that Rapace will play; aside from the fact that it’s the leading female part, and may involve her turning up as a French Gypsy; and it remains unclear as to whether or not her role will, like Rachel McAdams’ (The Time Traveller’s Wife) in the first movie, be of a romantic nature.
Most of the team (including the producers) from the first movie will be returning to Sherlock 2 with Rapace; including Robert Downey Jr (Iron Man) as Sherlock himself, Jude Law (Enemy at the Gates) as Watson, and director Guy Ritchie (Snatch); although as of yet there’s been no word on who will be replacing the gap left by Mark Strong (Robin Hood), the villain from the first film.
But whilst it’s unclear who will be playing the villain, it’s now well known that Holmes will be facing off against Moriarty; a criminal mastermind who’s Holmes’ archenemy, and a character that has been referred to as the ‘Napoleon of crime’; and will receive a visit from his older brother Mycroft; a man who possesses little ambition, no drive, and “would rather be considered wrong than take the trouble to prove himself right”, yet possesses deductive powers that are even greater than that of his younger brother.
The majority of the plot however remains throughly under wraps (just as the plot of any mystery/whodunnit should), and will only have vague hints revealed when production begins shortly in the UK; leaving everyone but those involved in production to wonder and guess, until the release date on December 16th 2011.
