Robert Downey Jr. leaves “Cowboys & Aliens” for “Sherlock Holmes” sequel
Robert Downey Jr. in “Sherlock Holmes”
Robert Downey Jr. has dropped out of the sci-fi “Cowboys & Aliens,” which would have reunited him with “Iron Man” director Jon Favreau, to star in a sequel to his new blockbuster “Sherlock Holmes.”
According to EW.com, Downey had to make the choice because of a scheduling conflict between the two films. The “Sherlock Holmes” follow-up has not yet been greenlit by Warner Bros., but it is being fast-tracked based on the success of the first film, which is approaching a $300 million worldwide haul.
Warner Bros. commissioned a sequel script by Kieran and Michele Mulroney in September and is now locking down the cast for a June start date, EW reports. That’s the same time that “Cowboys & Aliens” is set to begin principal photography.
Downey was set to play cowboy Zeke Jackson in the Dreamworks/Universal project “Cowboys & Aliens,” based on Platinum Studios’ 2006 graphic novel, which pits Old West cowboys and Indians against a group of technologically advanced aliens. Instead, it looks like Favreau will be searching for a new lead for the sci-fi film.
Though “Cowboys & Aliens” sounds like an intriguing project, I’d rather see Downey once again play Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s quirky hero. And if all goes to plan and “Iron Man 2″ is anywhere near as great as the first movie, hopefully Favreau and Downey will be working together again soon on Tony Stark’s third superhero adventure.
-BAM
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[...] across a Robert Downey Jr. update at BAM’s Blog — Nerdage favorite Robert Downey Jr. has dropped out of the film adaptation of the graphic [...]