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Guy Ritchie Explains His Vision for the New Sherlock Holmes

by Alex Billington
August 22, 2008
Source: USA Today

We may be getting a little too excessive with Sherlock Holmes news recently, but it is the latest big discussion amongst some headliners in Hollywood, so we can't really help it. I'm in the process of putting together an interview with Guy Ritchie in the next few weeks myself, but in the meantime, USA Today caught up with the British filmmaker quite recently and spent some time asking him about all things Sherlock Holmes. We've already featured numerous RocknRolla articles recently and the next big one will be our review, which is why we're also focusing on his next project. So even if you're not the biggest Guy Ritchie fan, maybe you'll appreciate his enthusiastic vision for the reimagined Sherlock Holmes.

Ritchie explains that "it will be a very big production, visceral and intellectual," adding that Holmes' "brilliance will percolate into the action." As we outlined previously, Ritchie's version is heavily inspired by the yet-to-be-published comic book on the character written by Lionel Wigram, with a focus more on his physicality, including martial arts, as well as his investigative skills - meaning we'll see an "adventuresome and less stuffy" version of Holmes than we're used to. Ritchie adds that "his intellect was as much of a curse as it was a blessing. He was a deeply layered character." And thankfully he picked up Robert Downey Jr. to play that deeply layered character, which adds even more promise to this film.

I wish we could bring you more details about this, but that's the extent of the short update that we've got today. I was hoping to do some more research on Wigram's comic, but it's not out yet and probably won't be until sometime next year. I am anxious to catch up with Ritchie to try and see if I can find out a little more about the story. For now we've provided two updates from the major players, Robert Downey Jr. and now Guy Ritchie himself, and we'll leave you to mull over these until we hear anything else. The film is supposed to start shooting in London in October and is expected to be in theaters sometime in 2010. I definitely hope there are others out there who are as interested in Ritchie's version of Holmes as I am!

Filed under Hype, Movie News

From around the web:

big r

I am very excited for this alex, count me in. Im familiar with sherlock holmes a bit, but not enough to say i know so much. Downey is a good actor so i think the movie will be good and definitely worth watching. The depth of the movie will make it very interesting, 2010 cant come soon enough.
Darunia

MArtial Arts? Man i know that Bourne brought a revolution into hollywood, and every kid in the block including James Bond, wants a piece of the action but....i just don't see it working in Sherlock Holmes i mean...It's Sherlock holmes.
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

I am very excited, but I was kind of hoping for more of a period piece with some awesome action. Martial arts though???
andrew

I'm very excited about this, with Robert Downey Jr and guy Ritchie on it, just hope we don't have to wait so long for it, can't wait to hear about the rest of the cast tho.
Buttons

I trust them.
Tim "Cloverfield"

For the FIRST time....(I agree with Red)
D-9

Ditto Clover. I as well. "Red", now that is funny! What do you think he does not get it!?
http://handfulofwires.blogspot.com DCompose

Hahahahah martial arts. What the fuck. If you're gonna fuck around with an established character, just create a new one.
Buttons

Just because Lock never used it, doesn't mean he doesn't know the way of the drunken master.
Xerxex

Guy Ritichie + Robert Downey Jr. = very good time.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tellkyle/ DownstateK

Actually if you've read much Holmes you'd know he was an accomplished boxer. Its not too much of a stretch to think he might dispatch a flunkie with some martial arts rather than 1800's style "put your dukes up" boxing. I really doubt Holmes goes bullet time, though with Guy Richie...
Tim "Cloverfield"

Told you RED would not get it!
http://www.bartitsu.org Tony Wolf

"Baritsu" was just a misspelling of Bartitsu, which was a real martial art combining jujitsu, boxing, savate and walking stick fighting. It was founded in London in 1899, while Doyle was writing his Holmes stories.