Sherlock Holmes 2 goes on the fast track

After the announcement yesterday about Robert Downey Jr. suddenly dropping out of the comic book adaptation of Cowboys & Aliens, there already was speculation that it was due to the Sherlock Holmes sequel to force the actor to make such a quick move. It looks like that was the actual cause as EW reports that Downey Jr. did drop out due to scheduling conflicts between that film and the Sherlock Holmes sequel. The film is not officially green lit, but very soon will be since the fictional clever hero managed to wrangle in audiences at the box office to make $297 worldwide so far.

There is already a June start date for filming, the cast already locked down for the sequel that’s already written up by Kieran and Michele Mulroney. At this rate, perhaps we’ll be seeing another Sherlock Holmes movie in theaters around the holiday season for 2011.