Word has it that Iron Man will be traveling back in time when cobbled streets and sexual repression in the name of civility were the orders of the day.  We might have overstretched the superhero part, but yes, Robert Downey Jr. has recently been cast as the legendary Sherlock Holmes.

One of the most recognizable literary icons of the modern era will be given a new breath of life in 2010, which will be 123 years since the very first publication of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s work.  Downey sure does have some large Victorian shoes to fill.  However, that shouldn’t be much of a worry, since as his recent films have shown, Downey is currently endowed with the Midas touch–coming out with Hollywood movies that rake in nine digit numbers–and he’s already shown time and again his unique yet accurate interpretations of characters he’s played.

The only not so jolly-good news about the film’s announcement are people’s reactions to the chosen Director, Guy Ritchie.  While Ritchie may have turned some heads a decade ago with Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and maybe a gasp of delight here and there from Snatch, many critics have commented that his recent films are “unwatchable” (so much for euphemisms).  Right now, there’s a lot of skeptic talk going around the net, saying that “Ritchie is Killing Sherlock Holmes,” or “Robert Downey Jr. is Sherlock Homes, Unfortunately Guy Ritchie is Directing.”  Ritchie isn’t that bad–he’s just “unwatchable” rather than “don’t-watchable” (sorry I couldn’t help it).  But thinking about his gritty, esoteric, and “witty” style, one is left with little choice but to find Ritchie a questionable if not bad choice.