Let’s Play Two: Robert Downey Jr. Ready For More Sherlock Holmes

Watson (Jude Law) and Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) model a variety of Victorian haberdashery.

Robert Downey Jr. is out promoting his film “The Soloist,” but The MTV Movies Blog got him to talk a little bit about the recently completed “Sherlock Holmes.” Downey, who plays the title role, said he thinks there will be a sequel, and if there is, he’s ready to sign up. In other words, no hemming and hawing and wrangling over getting the big role in place if there is a follow-up.

No word on how director Guy Ritchie would feel about returning to the famous detective series, or if Jude Law will be ready to repeat his role as Watson. But locking down the lead is always important. Nothing personal, Jude, but replacing Watson isn’t as traumatic as replacing Holmes. Keep that in mind while negotiating your contract.

Apparently it was a good experience for Downey. Also, he must be anxious to make up for years of lost work during his troubles with drugs. Speaking of, he said he’s responsible for keeping Holmes’s drug addiction out of the movie’s storyline (Holmes readers know the detective used cocaine and sometimes morphine; curiously, the MTV article mentions opium, but I don’t recall that). To quote:

“I actually petitioned the court and said, ‘This is a PG-13 movie. Let’s just refer to these peripherally. So at one point, Watson says, ‘What are you doing, that’s for eye surgery!’”

Yes, indeed, kids, stay off drugs and stay in school.

Downey also brought up another idea he’s had for a future Holmes movie–that Tony Stark travels back in time and meets Sherlock Holmes. He says:

A time travel thing,” Downey offers, “It’s a great idea. I’ll cross-pollinate my own double-franchise.”

He then quickly added, “That’s pathetic. The fact that I even thought of that is pathetic.”

No it’s not! Personally, I love the idea. Just a wee little tiny cameo? It can’t hurt anyone and time travel certainly seems like something Tony Stark would get involved in. And if Holmes saw the guy in the big iron suit pop up in his flat one day, well, he could always just write it off to a bad trip. Though not too explicitly of course. I am urging the Sherlock Holmes team to make this happen. Work with us, Marvel.

Of course any sequel plans are dependent on how well the first movie does. I hope it’s good. I’m looking forward to it and would hate to be disappointed. “Sherlock Holmes” is set to open Christmas 2009.

(Oh, and “The Soloist,” which co-stars Jamie Foxx, opens April 24th.)