Borat is Sherlock Holmes, Ferrell is Watson. You Like?

It’s elementary school slapstick, my dear Watson. Sacha Baron Cohen will play Sherlock Holmes, and Will Farrell will play his sidekick, Watson. No, I’m serious. The movie itself won’t be, though, since this isn’t the Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes movie we’ve been reporting on, but another version from Columbia Pictures. Guy Ritchie’s Holmes will be coming to you courtesy of Warner Bros., and one presumes, will offer up a serious take on the English bloke and his problem solving ways. The Columbia version probably won’t have a serious bone in its body, especially with the Borat guy in the lead.

Variety breaks it downtown:

The comedy is inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes tales. Though the thrust is different, the Baron Cohen-Ferrell pairing is the second major studio project featuring the supersleuth, as Warner Bros. is prepping the Anthony Peckham-scripted drama “Sherlock Holmes” with director Guy Ritchie.

The Col project reteams Baron Cohen and Ferrell, who played rival racecar drivers in Columbia’s 2006 hit comedy “Talladega Nights,” which Apatow and Miller also produced.

“Just the idea of Sacha and Will as Sherlock Holmes and Watson makes us laugh,” said Col co-prexy Matt Tolmach. “Sacha and Will are two of the funniest and most talented guys on the planet, and having them take on these two iconic characters is frankly hilarious.”

No director has been attached as of yet, but Etan Cohen (whose last credit was the Ben Stiller comedy “Tropic Thunder”) is currently pounding away at the script (trying to beat the WB into production, no doubt), with Judd Apatow producing from the sidelines.

And yes, we can’t wait to see Sherlock Holmes slip on the thong. ‘Eeeeeeees Nice!