Sherlock Holmes seems to be a character Hollywood is looking towards with two news reports in regards to high profile actors\directors looking to adapt him for the big screen once again. Both Columbia Pictures and Warner Bros both offering completely different takes on the super detective. I am a Sherlock Holmes fan and while I do think there is a lot that can be done with this character and his universe, am not overly excited about either of the two upcoming films.

Variety is reporting on a future comedy teaming Will Ferrell with Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat, Sweeney Todd) in a film written by Ethan Cohen (Tropic Thunder, Idiocracy). Judd Apatow is set to produce along with Jimmy Miller. The film will put Sacha Cohen in the role of Detective Sherlock Holmes, and Ferrell as his faithful sidekick, Watson. “Just the idea of Sacha and Will as Sherlock Holmes and Watson makes us laugh,” Columbia’s co-president Matt Tolmach told Variety. “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.” I am conflicted with this news as I am SICK of Ferrell and I am not as big a fan of Apatow as everyone else seems to be. However, I do like Sacha Cohen and Ethan Cohen has yet to have me excited about any of his scripts, but Idiocracy wasn’t that bad and Tropic Thunder is looking pretty funny.

I was more excited by the news reports earlier last month, that Guy Ritchie is supposedly working on his second Warner Bros film, his own adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes character based off of a script originally written by Tony Peckham. Neil Marshall was originally attached to direct this re-imagining of Holmes based off a comic created by producer, Lionel Wigram. This vision of Holmes is “adventuresome and less stuffy than previous screen incarnations and mines on more obscure character traits.” These traits include boxing, swordsmanship and as fans of Holmes are already aware of, his drug use. Dan Lin (The Departed) has been rumored as producing.

What does everyone think? A Sacha Cohen and and Ferrell pairing got you excited? Does Guy Ritchie taking on any franchise give you a slight sinking feeling in your stomach? Or how about the Sherlock Holmes character in general…any other fans around?