Robert Downey, Jr. Discusses "The First Superhero"

Robert Downey, Jr. Discusses "The First Superhero"

The actor who portrayed a superhero in Iron Man explains who the first "crusader" was!

News
By bsprecher - Dec 13, 2009 08:12 PM EST
Filed Under: Action
Source: Examiner

Actor Robert Downey, Jr. (RDJ) climbed his way back from the brink of career oblivion to break records as Marvel Comics' billionaire industrialist, Tony Stark, in Jon Favreau's Iron Man. RDJ has already completed filming on Iron Man 2, but he's got another "superhero" on his mind right now. In a recent Warner Bros. press release, RDJ described how he is playing "the first superhero" in the upcoming Guy Ritchie-directed Sherlock Holmes:










"He was probably the first superhero, an intellectual superhero. He was, and probably still is, one of the most recognizable icons on Earth, so much so that a lot of people actually thought that Sherlock Holmes was a real person. The more you look into [creator] Arthur Conan Doyle's books, the more you see what a rich character Sherlock Holmes is. He's very adept at so many things: he plays violin, he's a martial artist, a boxer, an expert single stick fighter and a swordsman of sorts. He has a strong moral code in helping good guys catch bad guys, so he has dedicated his life to being a consulting detective. He doesn't do it to show everyone how smart he is, or that he has figured everything else out when they haven't; he's actually a crusader."

Sherlock Holmes also stars Jude Law as Dr. John Watson, Rachel McAdams as femme fatale Irene Adler, and Mark Strong as the Satan-worshipping Lord Blackwood.

Sherlock Holmes opens December 25
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Jimdlux
Jimdlux - 12/13/2009, 8:20 PM
#1!! Never thought of Holmes as a superhero until I saw the trailers!
airbeyonder18
airbeyonder18 - 12/13/2009, 8:23 PM
England's Batman with a witty sense of humor.
SirExcalibur
SirExcalibur - 12/13/2009, 8:33 PM
EEK!! Excited!!!
thwhtGuardian
thwhtGuardian - 12/13/2009, 8:35 PM
I've always seen him as sort of a precursor to the later pulp heroes who them selves birthed the super heroes.
TheNameIsBetty
TheNameIsBetty - 12/13/2009, 8:38 PM
I'm excited bunches about this movie
crazyish
crazyish - 12/13/2009, 8:39 PM
i think if any other actor says what he says some of the time i would consider them cocky but when RDJ says stuff he doesnt sound cocky he sounds confident and smart as hell
CBMDeadpool
CBMDeadpool - 12/13/2009, 9:28 PM
People get inspiration from all over the place

Photobucket
Weapon420
Weapon420 - 12/13/2009, 9:34 PM
RDJ is amazing, everything he says makes you think and it's not just because he uses big words, he speaks in a way that provokes thought!



@Deadpool, thats hilarious dude, R.I.P. Bea Arthur
maxcarnage
maxcarnage - 12/13/2009, 10:47 PM
I cant wait to see this movie!! i only wish they used Dr. Moriarti as the main villain... maybe in the next one.
shibazz
shibazz - 12/13/2009, 11:33 PM
@De3adPool- Brilliant! ;')
sadmamba
sadmamba - 12/14/2009, 12:26 AM
@deadpool LOL!!!
Spilox
Spilox - 12/14/2009, 12:32 AM
You know, i like RDJ but what he's saying is know to every Sherlock Holmes fan. It's not like he's having an epiphany and want's to share it with the world. Although it does sound like that.
But i'm glad he's showing people how cool Holmes can be. This movie is gonna be great.

As for Moriarty. They shouldn't show him in the first movie. Maybe just use his voice from the shadows or something. Cause Moriarty is the Kingpin of Crime in Victorian London he rarely shows himself. He's the one pulling the strings, but like in the books you don't get to see him that often. He's only in 2 of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books. That's the charm of the character. Nobody knows anything about him till it's to late. And he kills Holmes (not realy :D).
Talontd
Talontd - 12/14/2009, 2:25 AM
RDJ is brilliant! This movie looks to be class, can't wait for it to come out...


@MAXCARNAGE

I was thinkin that too, but this is gonna rock!!! Hopefully he'll be behind the scenes in the second and appear in the last...

My vote is for John Malkovich as Professor Moriarty!:
Ugh
Ugh - 12/14/2009, 3:41 AM
@talontd and max carnage- He makes an apearence at the end.
SuperPowered
SuperPowered - 12/14/2009, 5:08 AM
Didn't they have an elseworlds issue of Batman vs. Sherlock Holmes?
TheDemonHunter
TheDemonHunter - 12/14/2009, 5:10 AM
As someone obsessed with the history of various fictional characters (and some non-fictional ones as well), I'm always amazed about how many people don't know much about the icons of the past.

I think RDJ is doing exactly what needs to be done in presenting Holmes this way in his interviews. Many people view Holmes as a dry, conservative pipe-smoking intellectual dressed in tweed hats and coats. This take on Holmes is certainly quite different from that. I think it's necessary to point out that the Holmes that the general public thinks they know (and might avoid as boring as a result) is not what RDJ is portraying in the new movie.

I give kudos to Ritchie, RDJ, and company for the approach they're taking in promoting this. Changing the perceptions of Holmes by comparing him to modern day superheroes and action heroes is definitely a wise choice to drum up interest for what looks like it should be a very enjoyable movie.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 12/14/2009, 5:11 AM
Batman vs. Sherlock Holmes would be [frick]ing so cool as an elseworlds movie!! MIKE @ Yeah im sure they did!

This movie looks okay but for the life of me, can't see many ppl popping up to watch it at Christmas!

Hope it don't turn into THE SPIRIT!
batfan39
batfan39 - 12/14/2009, 7:54 AM
I thought Zorro was the first super hero... Holmes is a great detective, but you need the freedom fighter aspect in there.
stopdropandroll
stopdropandroll - 12/14/2009, 8:00 AM
@MAXCARNAGE and Talontd

There's a rumor that Brad Pitt has a cameo at the end of the movie as Professor Moriarty.
InstigatorGIRL
InstigatorGIRL - 12/14/2009, 10:00 AM
I am very excited for this flick. I am picking up my tickets this weekend when I get paid. I liked the sherlock holmes stories when I read them years ago, and I admit I have not read all of them.... hmmmm, maybe I'll go and pick up every book from the library and get a refreshers course.
ProfOJ
ProfOJ - 12/14/2009, 10:00 AM
thats why the league of exrordinary gentalmen was so genious!(thebook)
dancingmonkey08
dancingmonkey08 - 12/14/2009, 10:11 AM
I cant wait to see this for both the movie itself with the awesome Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock and to see the Iron Man 2 trailer! Oh and even Jude Law looks cool in this movie, I normally hate him in other movies

I would love to see this being developed into a trilogy. Maybe have Moriarty the big villain at the end of the trilogy
BryEL
BryEL - 12/14/2009, 12:24 PM
Last year I saw The Spirit on Christmas (I know, so sue me) but since that movie made my gf want to commit suicide, we can't go see Avatar on Christmas. Instead, she gets to pick and she loves RDJ since Scanner Darkly so... I guess I'm looking forward to Sherlock (actually, the IM2 trailer, lol).
shibazz
shibazz - 12/14/2009, 11:00 PM
Geronimo was the first SuperHero. I should tell you his story sometime. He could litterally sing into existence his own desire. Truth.
ASSASSIN666
ASSASSIN666 - 12/14/2009, 11:02 PM
Robert can do no wrong be it an independent film, or big budget hollywood machine. He just defines the word talented
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