SOUNDBITES — “I hope this is just an example of Mr Downey’s black sense of humour. It would be drastic, but I would withdraw permission for more films to be made if they feel that is a theme they wish to bring out in the future. I am not hostile to homosexuals, but I am to anyone who is not true to the spirit of the books.” —Andrea Plunket, the (former?) administrator of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Literary Estate, who acquired rights to the Sherlock Holmes brand through her ex-husband (producer Sheldon Reynolds) in the 1950s, on whether she’d greenlight a sequel if the movie’s actors keep playing up the gay storyline. Evidently, she has not read a Sherlock Holmes book. (via)
andrea plunket
‘I am not hostile to homosexuals, but I am to anyone who is not true to the spirit of the [Sherlock Holmes] books’
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Cam
Really? Well funny that I don’t see her complaining about the movie “Young Sherlock Holmes” or the fact that in the current movies Sherlock isn’t portrayed as an opium addict who blacks out before coming up with solutions etc… Interesting which areas of the stories she seems terrified of.
Alexandre
I really didn’t see that big of a homosexual relationship between Sherlock and Watson. They seemed like an old married couple, but their relationship was platonic. I think people are seriously overreacting to this. But, I also didn’t see the homosexual relationship in the books.
terrwill
Bitter old crunt………..
Fitz
Aww.. give her a break. She feels she is protecting the legacy of her dead husband. She didn’t say “I hate gay people”.
Jason
I have read all the original Holmes stories, albeit it was 25 years ago. I don’t remember any part of the story that implied Holmes and Watson were anything but good friends and partners in crime fighting. It is a shame that males can’t have a close relationship without it being gay. Making all close same sex relationships sexual does not benefit our community.
I have not seen the new movie yet; I look forward to seeing it; but it appears they may have taken some literary license with the violence and the level of these two’s relationship. Holmes detested violence and didn’t even carry a gun. His use of drugs was rather important as the reason he gives says a lot about the man. Sounds like they bypass this however it actually isn’t discussed in all the stories so they could deal with it in future stories.
It appears the latest iteration of the Sherlock Holmes story has been altered to make it more interesting to the mindless masses. This lady certainly has the right to refuse selling the rights if she doesn’t like the director’s interpretation.
Alexandre
@Jason thank you!! Exactly what I wanted to say!
alan brickman
theres always been a homoerotic feel to these stories…she is just fooling herself…stephanie meyer take note….
alan brickman
but I also agree with jason….
henry
I really don’t see what the issue is. Robert Downey Jr was most likey joking it wasn’t like Guy Ritchie announced “hey MY sherlock holmes is going to be a homosexual SO take a note everyone”
If she is so true to the books why allow the relationship between Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes be the way it was portrayed in the movie. Irene Adler’s character was butchered in the movie and SHE nitpicks on some jokes made by Mr. Downey Jr.
I think this woman should just chill out. Plus it never stated Sherlock Holmes’ sexuality and stated he wasn’t interested in relationships with women. I’m not saying he’s gay, I actually believe he’s “asexual” BUT if someone wanted to portray him like that who’s to say he isn’t?