Noomi Rapace, the title star of the popular Swedish adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has landed her first English-language role as the female lead in Warner Bros.’s Sherlock Holmes 2. Rapace will be joining Robert Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as Dr. Watson in the sequel, which is expected to begin shooting later this year.
As for Rapace’s role, no surprise it’s being kept quiet, although sources say the character may be a French Gypsy. Of course, there is also the expectation Dr. Moriarty will play a larger role in the sequel, a role that was never credited in the first film leaving room for a name actor to play the villain. Brad Pitt was at one time rumored for the role.
Rapace is also rumored to be up for Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, the English language debut of director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow), alongside Jeremy Renner.
The currently untitled Sherlock Holmes sequel will bring Guy Ritchie back to the director’s chair with Kieran and Michele Mulroney penning the script based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s characters. The film is already scheduled for a December 16, 2011 release.
