Jared Harris Rumored to Portray the Mysterious Prof. Moriarty in SHERLOCK HOLMES 2

Brad Pitt and Daniel Day Lewis have both been unofficially linked to embody the mysterious arch-villain; but one news agency reports the role has gone to Mad Men actor Harris.

Just the other day, Stephen Fry revealed to BBC that he had recently landed the role of Mycroft Holmes; older brother to the eccentric Sherlock. Guy Ritchie is returning to direct the Sherlock Holmes sequel with Robert Downey Jr. again portraying the title character and Jude Law as Dr. Watson. The biggest question on Holmes fans minds is who would eventually be cast as the ultimate arch-nemesis; Professor Moriarty.

LatinoReview.com reports that an undisclosed source has recently revealed to them Ritchie's casting choice: Jared Harris. Son of the late, great Richard Harris, Jared has recently stared in the television series Mad Men and Fringe as well as the feature films The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Mr. Deeds.

If this comes to fruition, Harris will join the returning cast of Downey Jr., Law and McAdams; as well as Swedish Millennium film trilogy star Noomi Rapace, who will be playing a yet to be named French gypsy.