Brad Pitt Could Be Moriarty After All In The Developing 'Sherlock Holmes' Sequel

Brad Pitt has been the subject of a whirlwind of internet rumors that would mystify Sherlock Holmes himself. The "Inglourious Basterds" star was pegged for a cameo as the nefarious Moriarty, the titular master detective's arch-nemesis, in the Guy Ritchie-directed "Sherlock Holmes," but denials from Warner Bros. and other official parties effectively squashed that rumor.

Do you think the real Moriarty would reveal his identity so easily? No, he'd confuse his pursuers with misdirection and false leads. But just like legends, a good rumor never dies.

The Hollywood Reporter is getting in on the rumor mill by suggesting that Brad Pitt has had discussions with producers to star as Moriarty in a potential "Sherlock Holmes" sequel. The report acknowledges the previous Pitt rumors, but states that "those familiar with the script say the character [of Moriarty] is in shadow and cannot be recognized," verifying director Ritchie's statement that the Holmes villain is slated for an appearance -- just not with any specific actor in mind.

Perhaps more important than Pitt's potential enlistment in a "Holmes" sequel is the very existence of a sequel itself. The Robert Downey Jr.-starring action-mystery-what-have-you flick doesn't even hit theaters until December, and there are already active plans to turn the film into a franchise.

According to THR, screenwriters Kieran and Michele Mulroney have been hired to pen "Sherlock Holmes 2" for Warners. The screenwriting pair are also mentioned as the writers behind "Justice League: Mortal," the WB's defunct superhero team-up project. They also wrote and directed "Paper Man," the Jeff Daniels and Ryan Reynolds-starring dramedy about a man accompanied by an imaginary superhero pal.

So, not only is Brad Pitt maybe-possibly starring in the "Holmes" franchise after all, but a sequel is actually being fast-tracked in advance of the initial film's release. Seems a little early to be talking about "Sherlock Holmes 2" to me, when we don't even know if the first movie is any good or not.

What say you, readers? Is Brad Pitt a good fit for Moriarty? Should we even be talking about a "Sherlock Holmes 2" at this point? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!

Tags brad pitt, sherlock holmes, Sherlock Holmes 2