Guy Ritchie's "Sherlock Holmes" to Star... *Drum Roll*... Robert Downey Jr.!

While the Judd Apatow-produced Sacha Baron Cohen/Will Ferrell comedic revisiting of Sherlock Holmes gets underway, Guy Ritchie's more serious adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective series will beat them to the punch, with none other than Robert Downey Jr. backing it.

Yes, that is correct. Robert Downey Jr. will play Sherlock Holmes.

No more than a week ago, when I was geeking out about the prospects of Cohen's hilarious portrayal, I assumed nothing could elevate my interest in Ritchie's project to that level. I've been proven wrong.

Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes is without a doubt the coolest bit of casting news to be announced so far this year. My faith in Ritchie may not yet be restored (although RocknRolla looks like a step in the right direction), but I do have faith in Downey Jr.'s ability to pick worthwhile projects, and that alone is enough to have me fully intrigued. I dare say I'm even more interested in seeing what Robert Downey Jr. has to bring to the character over Sacha Baron Cohen.

How about you guys? Which actor are you more excited about seeing as everyone's favorite supersleuth?