For those who have long been clamoring to see a sequel to one of the century’s finest comedies, Step Brothers, that day has yet to arrive. However, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly will once again reteam, this time for a the Sherlock-inspired Holmes & Watson. Directed by Etan Cohen, Ferrell will take the role of Holmes and Reilly will take on the Watson role. It’s not said yet which time period the film will take place in, but production on the Sony Pictures production begins later this year, so expect more news soon.
Next up, Deadline reports Keira Knightley and Alexander Skarsgård are set to star in an adaptation of the best selling novel The Aftermath, which Fox Searchlight have acquired the rights to after an intense bidding war. The story is set in post-war Germany and concerns a Rachael (probably Knightley) who reunites with her husband (probably Skarsgård) who is a British colonel in Hamburg, where he has been charged with rebuilding the shattered city. After a peaceful reunion, she is shocked to discover they will be sharing their home with the previous owners — a German widower and his daughter, a troubled and problematic youth. Variety reports Jason Clarke is also in talks to star, which would either place him as Knightley’s husband or the widowed soldier which puts their marriage through the ringer. The adaptation will be helmed by James Kent (Testament of Youth and episodes of American Crime and 11.22.63) off a script penned by Anna Waterhouse and Joe Sharpnel, who both wrote Race. Ridley Scott will produce.
In more Knightley adaptation news, the British star is set to play the Sugar Plum Fairy in a filmic adaptation of The Nutcracker from Disney, Variety reports. Mackenzie Foy, Morgan Freeman, and Misty Copeland are also set to star in the live action film based off of E.T.A. Hoffman’s classical 1816 story which is being adapted — and assumedly modernized — by Ashleigh Powell, with Chocolat director Lasse Hallström taking the reins. While the original story is titled The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, this new version will be called The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, suggesting a potentially larger sprawl for the picture. Mark Gordon will produce. Knightley has worked with Disney extensively on the Pirates trilogy. She can be seen next this December in Collateral Beauty alongside Will Smith and Kate Winslet.
Lastly, Deadline reports Disney is also working on a live-action adaptation/remake of The Little Mermaid. They’ve paired Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the Broadway smash success Hamilton, with songwriter Alan Menken. The duo will write music for the film that concerns the titular mermaid who makes a deal with a shady sea-witch in order to meet her on-land, humanoid figure of love. While the mermaid unfortunately won’t be played by Channing Tatum, Disney will assumedly cast some popular talent for the occasion. However, Disney aren’t the only ones developing a mermaid tale, as Working Title is taking steps with its Chloe Grace Moretz-led Little Mermaid project through Universal. Hopefully there is enough fish in the sea to go around.