The 'Sherlock' actor is 'bemused and upset' that he's misquoted, insisting that he never said Miller took the lead role in the CBS drama about the famous detective because of the paycheck.
- Sep 1, 2012
AceShowbiz - Benedict Cumberbatch has clarified his recent comment on CBS' modern-day adaptation of Sherlock Holmes' story, "Elementary". After he's quoted as saying that he's "a bit cynical" about why producers chose to cast Jonny Lee Miller, the title character depicter on BBC's "Sherlock" claims he was misquoted.
"I am both bemused and upset at this misquote. I never said that Johnny took the job for the paycheck nor did I ask him not to do it," he says in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "What I said is I would have preferred not to be in the situation where we will again be compared because we are friends. I know for a fact his motivations were to do with the quality of the script and the challenges of this exceptional role."
Cumberbatch, who has a role in "The Hobbit" trilogy and a "Star Trek" sequel, goes on insisting that he's supportive to anyone who portrays the quirky detective. "Over 70 actors have played this exceptional character before us. To say that there can be only one Holmes would be ludicrous... The world of Sherlock Holmes and the world that we live in now is big enough to take more than one interpretation," he explains, adding that he's looking forward to Miller's show.
A few days earlier, Cumberbatch sparked a controversy as Shortlist.com released an interview with him regarding "Elementary" among other things. He reportedly told the site, "I did say [to Miller], 'Well, I'd prefer you didn't do it but you've got a kid to feed, a nice house in LA and a wife to keep in good clothes.' When you get used to a certain standard of living and they waft a pay cheque at you, what are you going to do...I wish him the best of luck, but I'm a bit cynical about why they've chosen to do it and why they cast him."
Cumberbatch's "Sherlock" is currently on hiatus and is expected to return for its third season in fall 2013. As for "Elementary", it will debut Thursday, September 27 at 10 P.M. on CBS with Lucy Liu playing Sherlock Holmes' sober companion Dr. Joan Watson.
