The Three Musketeers are back!

We could’ve seen this one coming: with Sherlock Holmes performing well at the box office, it was only natural that Warners would go hunting around for other literary characters to tinker with and slap back on the screen to appeal to The Kids Today. Next up? The Three Musketeers.

Holmes producer Lionel Wigram is the man leading the charge for an updated take on the veteran sword-swingers, having hired writer Peter Straughan (The Men Who Stare At Goats) to take a crack at rejuvenating Alexandre Dumas’ work. Does this mean they’ll all come equipped with ninja skills now? At the very least, according to Variety, the film will play up the sexy, action-packed aspects.

Dumas’ classic tale, of course saw the impetuous D’Artagnan join forces with the Musketeers to thwart the dastardly plans of Cardinal Richelieu. It’s one of those archetypes – like Robin Hood and Sherlock himself – that film and TV types just can’t help returning to. And now we have the theme tune to Dogtanian And The Three Muskehounds playing repeatedly in our noggins. Thanks very much, childhood.

And in case you were wondering, no, this has nothing to do with Paul WS Anderson’s 3D version of the tale. Though it does mean the race is now on to get D’Artagnan and co to the screen first.

/Empire Online/