Guy Ritchies Sherlock Holmes (Rumours and Discussion)

By Rappy
in The Media Room

 Share

Recommended Posts

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...
Grand Master

Rappy Veteran

Posted
  • Author
  • Veteran
Posted

Mark Strong Reveals Details on Sherlock Holmes Villain

We're still waiting to see a trailer for Sherlock Holmes, so until that shows up, all that we know about it comes from past news articles or interviews. Last year when I interviewed British actor Mark Strong, he mentioned that he was shooting Sherlock Holmes with Guy Ritchie, but didn't say too much about his character. Total Film (the article has since been removed) got to talk to Strong again recently and not only found out more about his character, known as Lord Blackwood, but also about some of the ending moments in the film, which we are of course not going to mention. So instead, let's find out more about this villain.

In Sherlock Holmes, Lord Blackwood is a occult-dabbling Satanist who ends up fighting Holmes.

"There's a touch of Dracula about him," Strong told Total Film. "He needed to have an element of showmanship about him by virtue of the fact that he's trying to persuade everyone around him that he's so in league with the Devil that he's able to conquer death. I just wanted to make him an equal adversary of Sherlock Holmes."

Considering Mark Strong is one of the finest underrated and unknown actors around, I don't think he'll have any problem making him an equal adversary, especially opposite Robert Downey Jr. Strong also admits that Blackwood is somewhat based on the real life Aleister Crowley, a British occultist who wrote The Book of the Law and became known as "The Wickedest Man In the World." I'm not familiar with that reference, but I am looking forward to Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes and I'm a big fan of Mark Strong, so I'm excited anyway. I'm sure he'll be one hell of a dark and creepy Holmesian villain and I can't wait to see him big screen.

  • 4 weeks later...
Grand Master

Rappy Veteran

Posted
  • Author
  • Veteran
Posted

Trailer was shown to ShoWest

Sometimes, ShoWest does pull out a few unexpected surprises, and while it was always known that Warner Bros. President and COO Alan Horn would be giving the welcome remarks at the State of the Industry Update, he used his time to also give a preview of some of Warner Bros.' upcoming movies, including showing the first footage of Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes, starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and Rachel McAdams.

An even bigger surprise was the actual presence of Downey, who took a break from preparing for Iron Man 2 to introduce the footage to the theater owners in the audience. After coming out to applause and being hugged by Horn, Downey Jr. joked that Horn hugs him every time he sees him now though that it wasn't always that way.

Before showing the footage, he told the audience how he came to the project, how after the opening weekend of Iron Man, he was told he probably could do anything he wanted to do "for the next hour and a half," so he went to Joel Silver, who gave Downey his first job 25 years ago (Weird Science), and gave him some ideas what he might be interested in doing. He learned about Guy Ritchie's plans to update Sherlock Holmes. Ritchie thought that Downey was too old for the role, but Downey convinced him and then also convinced him that Rachel McAdams wasn't too young to play his love interest. (He made a joke about using "Benjamin Button"-like CG to minimize their age difference.) Downey claimed that part of the reason Ritchie's movie will be different from the previous incarnation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's character is that besides going back to the original source material, the other projects never had the money to do it correctly.

The footage, a pseudo teaser-trailer, that followed had never been shown before, although we did glimpse a few scenes we saw being filmed and that were shown to ComingSoon.net/Superhero Hype! during our set visit last year, including Holmes' bare-knuckle fight and the early fight with Blackwood's henchmen. Otherwise, there was a lot of information going by very fast, as is always the case, so we tried to take notes and remember what we could.

It opens with eerie music and shadowy scenes of Victorian London and we see a shot of Downey's Holmes running down a spiral staircase and another of him smoking his trademark pipe as a voice-over tells Holmes that he needs to "widen his gaze" because he's underestimating the "gravity of coming events." The voiceover tells Holmes that at the dawn of the new day, the world as he knows it would end, to which Holmes responds playfully, "Well, there isn't any time to waste then" and he jumps out the window.

We get a brief glimpse of Eddie Marsan's Inspector LeStrade saying something about someone seeing Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong's villain in the film) rising from the grave, and Holmes is asked to find and stop him, which Holmes claims will "take every ounce of my not inconsiderable experience." To that, LeStrade comes back with a slam about it maybe being a hobby to Holmes, but that he does it for a living. (This confirms what Marsan told us last year about their working relationship not being a particularly friendly one.)

Holmes says that he needs to have someone with him that he can thoroughly trust, at which point we see him greeting Jude Law's Dr. Watson and we get a bit of the rapport between them, as the two of them squabble about the things roommates normally argue over, Law complaining about Holmes playing the violin late at night and his "lack of hygiene."

After that, we get a bit of the interaction between Holmes and Rachel McAdams' Irene Adler, as they scuffle, her pulling out an ornament from which sharp blades jut out to threaten Holmes. That interaction ends with him left chained to a bed. Watson finds him in that state and asks, "Holmes, does your depravity know no bounds?" to which Holmes replies, "No." (Later we see Adler in a very sexy outfit, as McAdams' credit is shown.)

Another scene shows Holmes facing a much larger opponent, who looked like Nathan Jones, the giant from the opening of Troy, atop what looked like a clock tower. Jones is wielding an enormous sledgehammer while Holmes is carrying just a standard everyday hammer, which he promptly throws at the giant hoping that would do some damage. (It doesn't, and the giant attacks.) This scene got a huge laugh from the audience.

There was a quick-cut montage of more action scenes before a scene where a maid walks into a room and screams, dropping the tray she was carrying. We cut to Downey chained to a bed naked except for a pillow covering his genitals, and he asks her to remain calm and that under the pillow is the "key to his release" and the shocked woman runs out screaming.

It was a very funny and exciting first look at what will surely be Guy Ritchie's most high profile film to date, and it got a great reaction from the exhibitors in attendance. It'll be interesting to see where and when this teaser trailer will surface, as it definitely did its job in showing what the movie is all about.

Sherlock Holmes opens on Christmas Day. Look for more from ComingSoon.net/Superhero Hype!'s visit to the set shortly.

Grand Master

Rappy Veteran

Posted
  • Author
  • Veteran
Posted
Rachel McAdams :wub:

This sounds like it's going to be great.

Yeah she's so cool, I think I only saw the lovefest named the notebook for her and of course Mean Girls which is win.

  • 1 month later...
  • 2 weeks later...
Grand Master

Reacon

Posted
Posted

Kicking ass and calling names? That is NOT how I remember the books, nor would I want to see a Sherlock Holmes like that. Sherlock is a genius inspector, not a James Bond. He solves mysteries using his brain, not his brawn. I hope to god they don't make him all out action. That would ruin the movie then and there.

Grand Master

Rappy Veteran

Posted
  • Author
  • Veteran
Posted
Kicking ass and calling names? That is NOT how I remember the books, nor would I want to see a Sherlock Holmes like that. Sherlock is a genius inspector, not a James Bond. He solves mysteries using his brain, not his brawn. I hope to god they don't make him all out action. That would ruin the movie then and there.

When he started with the idea he said it would be loosely based on the Sherlock universe and its based on a graphic novel I think that's not even out yet.

Grand Master

Scirwode

Posted
Posted
Kicking ass and calling names? That is NOT how I remember the books, nor would I want to see a Sherlock Holmes like that. Sherlock is a genius inspector, not a James Bond. He solves mysteries using his brain, not his brawn. I hope to god they don't make him all out action. That would ruin the movie then and there.

Wasn't he really good at hand-to-hand combat in the book? He did go to quite a number of place to chase after his nemesis. Then again, it has been a while since I've last read the books so I might have to pick it up again just to refresh my memory.

Scirwode

Grand Master

Scirwode

Posted
Posted
Yeah he knew a fighting style, watch the old Jeremy Brett show if you can that was a pretty spot on Sherlock Holmes

I don't really know which one was that :p . Back in the 80's, I was glued to my TV watching Mind Your Language :rofl: !

Scirwode

Grand Master

Rappy Veteran

Posted
  • Author
  • Veteran
Posted
I don't really know which one was that :p . Back in the 80's, I was glued to my TV watching Mind Your Language :rofl: !

Scirwode

Oh I wasn't it either only recently have I been rewatching them all on our local channels.

jeremy_brett.jpg

Grand Master

Scirwode

Posted
Posted
Oh I wasn't it either only recently have I been rewatching them all on our local channels.

jeremy_brett.jpg

I seem to remember that one, though I have to refresh my memory a bit more. Oh, and now you've gone and made me search for it :p .

Scirwode

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Posts

    • An oversimplified explanations of Passkeys

      By +Warwagon · Posted

      Thank you for the feedback! I updated the image
    • Grand Theft Auto VI pricing revealed alongside Ultimate Edition and pre-loading details

      By dipsylalapo · Posted

      Hmm wonder if I can share/resell the 'physical' edition like I can now.
    • Movavi Video Editor Plus 26.18.0

      By Copernic · Posted

      Movavi Video Editor Plus 26.18.0 by Razvan Serea With Movavi Video Editor Plus, you can either enhance your video files with two or three simple steps, or turn them into something completely new. Create your own movies using multiple filters, transitions, and special effects: show multiple videos on one screen with the Picture in picture effect or change the background with the Chroma Key effect, imitate the camera zoom or make your video look like an old-style movie. Adjust video parameters such as brightness, contrast and colors. Stabilize shaky footage, improve video quality and remove defects. Create video presentations, tutorials or educational videos: add titles and record your own narration to create a video with voiceover. Import video from any source: TV-tuner, webcam, camcorder, or VHS. Drop multiple media files onto a timeline and let your imagination do the rest! Features at a glance: Video and audio editing on a timeline Edit, enhance videos Add background music Apply titles and effects Image quality improvement Hollywood-worthy effects High-grade titles and fades Digitize VHS tapes, record video from TV tuners Stabilize any shaky sections Support for a wide range of formats Prepare your videos for uploading to YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, or any other website New in Movavi Video Editor 2026: 30+ fresh subtitle styles. Upgrade your automatic captions with new designs. Customize your text in the Styles tab with a single click. Optional advanced settings are also available in the dedicated Design tab. Subtitles in English – instantly! Translate auto-subtitles into English with a click – no dictionaries or online services needed. Once translated, configure and fine-tune the subtitles using the standard editing tools. 40+ adjustable effects. Enhance your videos in a click with new realistic effects – from dust particles and light leaks to retro-style and VHS. Every effect is fully customizable – so it will fit any clip perfectly and bring an extra spark to your edits. Ultra-fast playback. Show more in less time with video speed control of up to 100x. Perfect for epic time-lapses, long process recaps, or whenever you want to add some extra energy to your content. Magnetic zones are marked with dots, and the 1x value is indicated by a vertical line. Silence removal – in a click. Cut out unwanted pauses automatically or fine-tune the pause length and volume threshold yourself. Skip the tedious cleanup and make your videos more dynamic. Fast effect copying. Effortlessly duplicate any effect from one video to another: click Clip effects in the dropdown menu and proceed to copy or paste. Movavi Video Editor Plus 26.18.0 changes: This version includes small improvements for better editing. Download: Movavi Video Editor Plus 26.18.0 | 2.7 MB (Shareware) View: Movavi Video Editor Plus Website | Screenshot Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • JBL BAR 800 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar is an amazing deal today

      By hellowalkman · Posted

      JBL BAR 800 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar is an amazing deal today by Sayan Sen This Amazon Prime Day 2026 sales so far we have had a couple of nice deals related to sound and audio. First we have the Sennheiser HD 600 at its lowest ever price of just $225. Next we also have the Beats Studio Pro at its lowest price ever at just $150. However perhaps you prefer your gear to sound great on a larger scale, like throughout the room. In that case an all-in-one soundbar system can help and currently JBL's BAR 800 is a great deal for sure as it's up for grabs at just $600 (purchase link under the specs table down below). One thing that should be appreciated a lot about these JBL soundbars is their spec sheet and the frequency response data it provides. The firm is honest about it as JBL confirms the subwoofer is able to go down to 35 Hz at -6dB or F6. This means it should be covering 40Hz and up very well, where most of the bass lies. You miss out on a lot of sub-bass but that is to be expected given the price point and the subwoofer driver size. Speaking of which, it is a 10-inch driver and promises a max output power of 300 watts at 1% THD (total harmonic distortion). JBL also claims the system will provide you with a "True Dolby Atmos" experience. The surround speakers are wireless and battery-powered which means setting them up should be really convenient. The technical specs of the JBL BAR 800 are given in the table below: Specification Value Channel Configuration 5.1.2-channel soundbar system Dolby Atmos Yes, with 2 up-firing drivers Total System Power Output 720 W Soundbar Power Output 340 W Surround Speaker Power Output 2 × 40 W Subwoofer Power Output 300 W Soundbar Drivers 3 × 46×90 mm racetrack drivers, 3 × 20 mm tweeters, 2 × 70 mm up-firing full-range drivers Surround Speaker Drivers 1 × 46×90 mm racetrack driver (each speaker) Subwoofer Driver 10-inch (260 mm) wireless subwoofer Frequency Response 35 Hz – 20 kHz (-6 dB) Audio Inputs Optical, Bluetooth, Chromecast built-in, AirPlay, Alexa Multi-Room Music (MRM), USB* HDMI Inputs 1 HDMI video input HDMI Output 1 HDMI eARC output HDCP Version 2.3 HDR Pass-Through HDR10, Dolby Vision Bluetooth Version 5.0 Wi-Fi Version 6, 6E Streaming Services Chromecast built-in, Apple AirPlay, Alexa MRM Get it at the link below: JBL Bar 800-5.1.2-Channel Dolby Atmos soundbar with Detachable Surround Speakers (Black): $599.85 (Sold and Shipped by Amazon US with Prime) Prime subscription can be cancelled within three business days. Good to know This Amazon deal is U.S. specific, and not available in other regions unless specified. We only use first-party seller links (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you purchase from a first-party seller link only. Check out Today's Deals on Amazon | or our recent tech deals. Become a Prime member (for Students or SNAP) via Neowin Get Prime Access - Prime for half price (for qualifying Medicaid, EBT, SNAP) Subscribe to Prime Video, Audible Plus, Music Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited via Neowin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • Microsoft releases PowerToys v0.100.1, fixes a bug that made remapped keys misbehave

      By Ivan Jenic · Posted

      Microsoft releases PowerToys v0.100.1, fixes a bug that made remapped keys misbehave by Ivan Jenic Microsoft just released PowerToys v0.100.1, a patch update that addresses several stability and behavior issues found in v0.100.0. The v0.100.0 patch was a significant update for PowerToys, as it introduced all sorts of new features and additions, such as a rebuilt Shortcut Guide, a Command Palette Extension Gallery, webcam overlay support in ZoomIt, and more. However, the v0.100.0 version also introduced some bugs and stability issues. And now, Microsoft is addressing these issues in the new patch. The most impactful fix in this release perhaps is in Keyboard Manager, where remapped modifier keys were being delivered as system-key events, causing unexpected behavior in apps. The clearest example of this was Alt-to-Backspace remaps, deleting whole words instead of a single character. So, if you thought there was an issue with your keyboard, Microsoft just confirmed that it was PowerToys. Beyond the Keyboard Manager fix, v0.100.1 also addresses several other issues. It fixes a bug with Power Display that was preventing monitors from waking from standby correctly. Additionally, the new update patches Quick Access crashes on launch, and resolves a Shortcut Guide crash that occurred when switching between sidebar sections. Here’s the full changelog: Color Picker Fixed a bug where the main Color Picker window could appear inside the zoomed-in picker view Command Palette Fixed Run history initialization in AOT builds Fixed a bug where the Performance Monitor dock item could show ??? after restart Fixed the Hibernate command using the Sleep icon Limited the "pin to dock" dialog to displays where the dock is enabled Keyboard Manager Fixed modifier keys remapped to non-modifier keys being delivered as system-key events, which caused unexpected behavior in apps such as Alt-to-Backspace deleting whole words Power Display Fixed a bug where selecting On in the monitor power-state control did not wake a monitor from standby Fixed built-in display detection and brightness control on dual-GPU laptops where the internal panel is driven by the discrete GPU PowerToys Run Fixed VS Code Workspaces discovery after VS Code moved recently opened workspace data to shared storage Quick Access Fixed Quick Access flyout crashes caused by unhandled XAML exceptions during launch or page navigation Shortcut Guide Fixed a crash when navigating between Shortcut Guide sidebar sections Fixed number-key rendering in shortcut manifests and added a Postman shortcut manifest Updated bundled shortcut manifests to use the literal number-key token so number keys render correctly across apps ZoomIt Fixed a race condition in audio initialization for ZoomIt video recording You can download PowerToys v0.100.1 from the official GitHub releases page.

  • Recent Achievements

    • One Year In
      OHI Accounting earned a badge
      One Year In
    • First Post
      Almohandis earned a badge
      First Post
    • Rookie
      DaviKar went up a rank
      Rookie
    • Dedicated
      HidekoYamamoto94 earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • One Month Later
      timbobit earned a badge
      One Month Later

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      474
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      172
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      122
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      82
    5. 5
      Xenon
      74
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!