'I'll be the best Sherlock Holmes ever'

Reuters

LOOKING FOR CLUES: Robert Downey Jr says he will be the best Sherlock Holmes there has ever been.

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Robert Downey Jr says he will play Sherlock Holmes "better than it's ever been done before".

The 43-year-old actor - who will portray the fictional British detective in Guy Ritchie's new movie Sherlock Holmes - is not worried about following in the footsteps of stars including Charlton Heston, Edward Woodward and Rupert Everett because he intends to bring something new to the role.

He said: "In case you aren't aware I had a hell of a summer, and it's made me much more viable to play a lead role than I might have been in the past.

And clearly I'm going to do it better than it's ever been done before.

"The more I read about it the more overwhelmed I was by the weight of it and the amount of people who will be watching to see if it's gotten right."

Speaking at a press conference in London, director Guy explained what inspired him to take on the movie - which will be based on the novels of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

He said: "I really knew Sherlock Holmes from tapes - I wasn't a very good reader. What I had imagined in my mind was not exactly what I'd seen previously manifested on film.

"I am a fan of many of the previous productions of Sherlock Holmes. I just think we can have a different take and I'd like to think a better take. We're trying to be as authentic as we can to the original Sherlock Holmes.

"We are also keen on keeping it authentic to Conan Doyle."