Image caption Mycroft is depicted in Conan Doyle's books as the more intelligent but lazier older brother

Stephen Fry is to play the brother of Sherlock Holmes in the sequel to Guy Ritchie's 2009 film about the sleuth.

The actor, 53, told The Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live he would be playing Mycroft Holmes - older brother of Arthur Conan Doyle's detective.

Robert Downey Jr will again play the lead character with Jude Law reportedly reprising his role as sidekick Watson.

The as-yet-untitled sequel, directed by Ritchie, is scheduled for release in December 2011.

"I'm playing Mycroft in the sequel to the Sherlock Holmes film Guy Ritchie directed with Robert Downey Jr and that sort of part is fun," Fry told Baker.

Mycroft is depicted in Conan Doyle's books as the more intelligent but lazier older brother.

He was recently played by League of Gentlemen actor Mark Gatiss in the BBC television adaptation.

Ritchie's sequel will also feature Noomi Rapace, who played Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish film versions of Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy.

Made in Dagenham star Geraldine James has been confirmed to once again play Holmes's landlord Mrs Hudson.