Robert Downey Jr. demonstrates his mastery of the martial arts in “Sherlock Holmes”, an explosive rereading of the works of Arthur Conan Doyle by Guy Ritchie. And despite all his talent, the actor could not dodge a violent accidental hook from wrestler Robert Maillet.
sherlock holmes : Guy Ritchie modernizes the detective
One of the most interpreted characters in cinema, Sherlock Holmes got a makeover in dark rooms in 2010. Under the direction of Guy Ritchie, Robert Downey Jr. dons the detective’s costume but does not bother to wear his deerstalker. In this supercharged version which takes up the basics (and only the basics) of Arthur Conan Doyle’s work, the hero is a seasoned wing chun practitioner able to anticipate the movements of his opponents, in addition to being able to thwart the Machiavellian plans of formidable enemies.
A first part where Sherlock Holmes and his old friend John Watson (Jude Law) face Lord Henry Blackwood (Mark Strong), whom they interrupt in the middle of a black magic ritual after a series of violent murders in London. On the verge of being executed, the wizard promises that he will return from the realm of the dead to take revenge. Shortly after, Holmes and Watson realize that Blackwood indeed seems to have resurrected.
The duo sets off on his trail with the help of Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), an outstanding criminal with whom Sherlock Holmes is still deeply in love. Eddie Marsan and Kelly Reilly complete the cast of the feature film oscillating between investigation and action scenes, in which Robert Downey Jr. multiplies physical prowess, even if it means injuring himself during filming.
Robert Downey Jr. brutally ‘knocked out’
In December 2008, while the production of sherlock holmes in full swing, several media reveal that the headliner of the film was injured during a confrontation against a giant wrestler. The latter is none other than Robert Maillet, Canadian athlete who is 2.13 meters tall and who also appeared in 300 Pacific Rim or the series The Strain.
During the shots of their fight, the sportsman completely sounded Robert Downey Jr. by giving him a real inadvertent blow to the face. A source then reports, quoted by theIrish Examiner :
Robert (Downey Jr.) was accidentally hit in the chin by a huge hook. He flew up and was knocked out. He didn’t want to go to the hospital and kept trying to get up. He’s a soldier.
A nurse present on the set subsequently had to give him six stitches in the mouth. This is not the only accident that occurred during production. The team was also ironic about suffering “a curse”. During a delivery, a tank truck panicked the members present by catching fire, interrupting their work for two hours. A shooting almost as hectic as the feature film…
