"Extending the Franchise" [FIVE]

You know Sherlock Holmes has really gone Hollywood when there's talk of a sequel before the first movie even hits the theaters.

The new Guy Richie-directed film starring Robert Downey, Jr. won't hit theaters until December 25th, but there's already chatter that the game's afoot with regard to a follow-on film. According to the Risky Biz Blog:

"Warners is keen on developing new franchises, with Holmes -- with its broad fan base and rich source material -- considered a very appealing candidate."

That should please Sherlockians to no end. But we're months and months away from casting and script development, which is usually where our hopes are dashed.

Courtesy of Societe Sherlock Holmes de France.

What are those four-letter abbreviations in the headlines?

"Going Back to Pitt" [SIXN]

Rumor (or is that rumour?) has it that the rough cut of Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes didn't sit too well with executives, and they've asked him to make some changes.

According to Hollywood columnist Liz Smith, Ritchie is turning to his old friend and colleague Brad Pitt to step in and save the day. His role? If the rumors are correct, we'll be seeing Mr. Angelina Jolie as the next Professor Moriarty. Yes, you read that correctly.

Ms. Smith quotes this sequence from "The Crooked Man" to sum up her reaction:

"Excellent!" I cried.
"Elementary," said he.

Mine is something more along the lines of:

"You appear to be astonished," he said, smiling at my expression of surprise. "Now that I do know it I shall do my best to forget it." [A Study in Scarlet]

I'd say we should hope that the Hollywood executives know what they're talking about. But then again...

What are those four-letter abbreviations in the headlines?