Does Benedict Cumberbatch think Jonny Lee Miller took the Elementary job for the paycheck? Apparently not, according to an update from the Hollywood Reporter. Cumberbatch, 36, was originally quoted in Shortlist.com, saying "I did say, "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?"
To re-cap briefly, Elementary is a US version of the Sherlock Holmes tale, set in the modern day (much like Cumberbatch's UK series, Sherlock) and starring Lucy Liu as a female version of Sherlock's sidekick, Dr. Watson. Cumberbatch has now contacted The Hollywood Reporter, who reproduced the story with the headline 'Benedict Cumberbatch: Jonny Lee Miller Took 'Elementary' Role for the Paycheck' and has informed them that he has been misquoted. Obviously keen not to upset the friendship that he has with Jonny.
"I am both bemused and upset at this misquote," Benedict said in his defence. "I never said that Johnny took the job for the paycheck nor did I ask him not to do it. 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." That us told, then.