Sometimes it’s a benefit to having famous and influential friends. It’s even better when, in addition to your friend’s pocketbooks and clout, you’re coming off a well received box office hit. That’s the position Rocketman director, Dexter Fletcher finds himself in, as he readies to take on a rather big next film. Variety ran a story earlier today, stating that Fletcher is set to take over for Guy Ritchie, on the next Sherlock Holmes caper.
For those unfamiliar with the direct connection, here’s a quick bit of backstory. Back in 1999, Ritchie directed his first feature, Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels. A film where Fletcher was one of the c0-leads and Matthew Vaughn (Kingsman) happened to produce. The rest, as they say, is history. Fletcher has turned up as an actor several times, for both men, in the intervening years. Vaughn’s even produced two of Fletcher’s directorial efforts (Eddie The Eagle, Rocketman). So, his coming on-board isn’t entirely surprising. In a way, it’s actually a little bittersweet. Don’t be too surprised if Ritchie’s name is still attached to this project going forward, even if only as a producer.
Fletcher has proved himself capable of handling a variety of styles and working under harsh conditions meaning, squeezing this in before the 2021 release date, should be a breeze. After all, he’s the one who famously stepped in, after Bryan Singer’s firing, to finish Bohemian Rhapsody. Should you be curious how much of a contribution he had there, you just need to go see Rocketman, immediately.
Warner Bros. been rearing to make a closing chapter to the Sherlock trilogy for years, but that pesky Marvel movie machine kept Downey Jr. locked up. Seeing as how he has some free time in the near future, they’re ready to pounce and get things underway. The plan is set to bring back Jude Law, as well. You certainly can’t have Holmes without Watson, right? Everyone else past that is up in the air. For consistency sake, it would be fun in they tried to at least rope back in Eddie Marsan or Kelly Reilly.
What do you think, dear readers? Are you itching for another Sherlock Holmes film? Specially with these actors? Are you curious what pizzazz Fletcher can bring to the series, which relied a lot on Ritchie’s ticks and flair? The section below is open for you share your thoughts. Beyond the director change, there isn’t much known about the film. Not even a title. All we know is that Chris Brancato (Narcos) wrote the latest version of the script. Expect more on this one, as it develops. Sherlock Holmes 3 is slated to mysteriously enter theaters, on December 21, 2021.
