So what does this mean for the intriguing sounding “Cowboys and Aliens” from Dreamworks, now that Robert Downey Jr. is also currently in negotiations to play the lead in Guy Ritchie’s re-imagining of Sherlock Holmes? No idea. As was with “Cowboys and Aliens”, which he’s been attached to star, Downey is now also officially in talks to play the lead in “Sherlock Holmes”. I guess this will probably mean that whoever gets their film off the ground first can lay claim to having a movie starring Downey post-”Iron Man”. Get moving, studio guys! (I’m rooting for “Cowboys and Aliens” myself. I mean, come on, the title alone!)

Says THR on Ritchie’s new take on the old Sherlock Holmes character:

The movie, which will shoot in the fall, 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.

Besides pushing “Sherlock Holmes” into production before Dreamworks can do likewise with “Cowboys and Aliens”, Warner Bros. will want to beat Columbia’s own Sherlock Holmes comedy, to star Sacha Baron Cohen and Will Ferrell, to the market place.