Martin Freeman Almost Missed Out On Being Our Dr. Watson

Originally published on PopWrapped.  27 December 2013.

With the highly anticipated return of BBC’s Sherlock coming in January, the idea of anyone besides Martin Freeman playing Dr. John Watson to Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes seems laughable. But the star of The Hobbit, who has been the perfect partner for the consulting detective, nearly missed out on the role.

During his audition, Freeman was reportedly “grumpy” according to series co-creator Mark Gatiss. The actor had a good reason: his wallet had been stolen on his way to the audition. Without knowing this though, Gatiss and the Sherlock creative team thought Freeman wasn’t interested in the role of Dr. Watson. When Freeman learned this via his agent, he was quick to correct the error.

“And I said, ‘Oh… I am really interested. Please call them and let them know that I am interested.’ I wasn’t being blasé about it at all. I just wasn’t on my best day.”

Thankfully the actor got a second chance and was even paired with Cumberbatch to read for the part again.

“It instantly worked, it seemed to me,” Freeman said about working with Cumberbatch. “I thought he was a fantastic actor and there was something about our rhythms, similarities and differences that meant that it just happened.”

Sherlock returns to BBC One on New Year’s Day at 9 p.m. Freeman and Cumberbatch are also both currently starring in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, which is in theaters now.

Benedict Cumberbatch is Rumoured To Be Joining Star Wars VII

Originally published on PopWrapped.tumblr.com.  2 September 2013.

The Star Wars rumor mill is whirring again with yet another tantalizing piece of gossip: Benedict Cumberbatch may be joining the cast of Episode VII.

Though the rumor has been vigorously not commented on by everyone associated with the highly anticipated new Star Warsmovie that does not mean fans are not all a-flutter.

Speculation of the Sherlock actor reuniting with his Star Trek director J.J. Abrams began when Cumberbatch abruptly departedfrom the Guillermo del Toro film, Crimson Peak. Since that movie and Star Wars are both expected to begin shooting in January 2014, fans were quick to connect the dots.

Cumberbatch’s repeated declaration of love for the lightsaber franchise has also added heat to the rumor. In a May interview with Total Film he confessed that he was, “an out-and-out kid running around with a lightsaber wanting to fly the Millennium Falcon.” He stated in the same interview that he had already approached Abrams about a role in Episode VII.

“I’ve already asked [J.J. Abrams] if I can be a lightsaber,” Cumberbatch joked. “We’re in talks – about whirring sounds and the rates for the lights and everything.”

In all seriousness though, who would Cumberbatch play in the Star Wars film? Everyone is mum on that as well, with some of the filmmakers jokingly saying he will be the villain. After his stunning performance as Khan in Star Trek: Into Darkness, being a Sith Lord seems right up his alley.

Then again, the image of Cumberbatch running around in Jedi robes with a blue or green lightsaber sounds quite nice too.

Even with details being fairly nonexistent, there are two things I feel sure about: One, anything Cumberbatch did in Episode VIIwould be phenomenal. And two, after roles in Star Trek, The Hobbit trilogy, and Sherlock, a part in Star Wars: Episode VII would certainly cement Cumberbatch’s (well deserved) status as a geek god.