Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) received its European premiere tonight in London’s Leicester Square amidst wind, rain and the cheers of a huge, bedraggled crowd. Braving the icy weather, director Ritchie and stars Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr. took to the red carpet to present the film, which this time sees Holmes and Dr. John Watson engage in a battle to outwit and disarm Jared Harris’ ruthless Professor James Moriarty, who has come up with an evil plot to gain wealth and power for himself.
Talking to the congregated press, Ritchie spoke enthusiastically about his latest work, stating “We thought this had to be bigger and better, and in a way it’s easier, because we know what the audience like. But it’s also harder, because we want to keep the audience happy. Hopefully we managed to tick all the boxes.”
He agreed that the relationship between Holmes and Watson “is the heart and soul of the movie. The audience like it – and so do I”. But did Jude and Robert stray from the script? “They didn’t – but it wouldn’t bother me. The thing is, everybody has an opinion, but at the end it’s me who has to decide…”
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is set in different locations across Europe, and features impressive special effects. “But it’s more than just fireballs” Ritchie added, “We’ve tried to provide compelling alibis on why there’s a fireball…”
“We hope everybody has as much fun watching the film as we did making it” gushed Law, also present on the red carpet. And how was the whole experience of being back in the Sherlock Holmes universe? “Well, when you’re working with someone as awful as Robert Downey Jr., it meant I had to work extra hard…” he joked, speaking about his co-star. “We play off each other, and enjoy working together. He’s such a great actor and in a situation like this, you just have to up your game. But we never improvise.”
Downey Jr., attending with his pregnant wife Susan, also spoke about the relationship between the two protagonists as well as the main themes of this new instalment. “I love the whole brotherhood. And justice, whatever that means, is kind of an important thing; and honour. And I find adventurous women very mysterious.” He went on to confirm that both himself, Law and Ritchie had a lot of fun on set. But did they play pranks whilst filming? “No, we didn’t. But we did beat each other up a lot”.
Ritchie is also looking like being announced as the new director for the big screen adaptation of cult 60s US TV series The Man from UNCLE, following the withdrawal of Steven Soderbergh from the project.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is due for release in the UK on 16 December, 2011.