The Hollywood Reporter says Rachel McAdams will star opposite Robert Downey Jr. in Sherlock Holmes, a reimagining of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s character that Guy Ritchie is directing for Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow.
McAdams plays Holmes’ enigmatic love interest, Irene Adler, a character who appeared in Doyle’s 1891 “A Scandal in Bohemia.” While the character only appeared in that one story, McAdams’ personage would return for any possible sequel.
The movie, which will begin shooting next month, takes its cue from a forthcoming comic book that producer Lionel Wigram wrote as a selling tool for a new take on the classic character. The concept sees Holmes as more adventurous and less stuffy than previous screen incarnations and mines more obscure character traits.
Downey will play Holmes while Mark Strong plays the main villain, Blackwood. Jude Law is portraying Holmes’ colleague Watson.