Ever since filming began last year on Sherlock Holmes, there have been rumors that director Guy Ritchie and stars Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr. were all for infusing the film with a whiff of homoeroticism between Holmes and Dr. Watson. All three men went on the record joking about how they wanted to make the story an affectionate bromance. Now that the Holmes publicity campaign is in full swing, RDJ and Jude are still joking about their bromance, and now the studio is getting twitchy. PopEater’s gossip guy claims that studio executives at Warner Bros are trying to get them to shut up. They want to promote the film as straight-up straight action flick, “not Brokeback Mountain 2.”
Publicists for the upcoming ‘Sherlock Holmes’ movie are very concerned that its star, Robert Downey Jr., can’t stop hinting that the great dapper detective’s relationship with Dr. Watson may involve more than just solving crime.
“When Robert joked with Letterman that they might be homos, Warner Brother executives died,” laughed one industry insider who believes Downey is messing with studio bigwigs.
“The studio wants to position this as an action-packed adventure, not ‘Brokeback Mountain 2,'” my insider joked.
Yet fear not — I have been told the film will not disappoint any hardcore Holmes fans, and if the world’s sneakiest sleuth does have a secret love that dare not speak its name, he doesn’t kiss and tell in this film. There is, however, a good amount of man-on-man bare-chested fighting, so make of that what you will.
[From PopEater]
Back in 2007, one of the guys who did publicity for 300 got an award for the way they marketed the film as both a straight-guy action film and a film that could be fully embraced by the gay community. I think it’s nice that RDJ wants to let his gay fan base know that this could be the film for them… but if it’s not a film about oiled muscle men in loincloths, I’ve got to wonder about the crossover potential between “the gay film-going market” (which is still seen as a niche market) and “mainstream audiences”. Although RDJ is half-naked in part of the film… which could mean crossover has been achieved!
I think RDJ is messing with the studio execs too. And I like it!
Oh my. These boys are so naughty.
Yawn.
And…?
I am really looking forward to this movie. Love RDJ, love Sherlock Holmes.
God Hollywood is so homophobic! RDJ is totally kidding…mostly..I always kinda wondered about Holmes. :-)Also, I don’t think gay people can only watch movies about gay people. It’s less of a niche market I think than people realize. I’m fairly certain gay folks can enjoy most of the same stuff straight people watch.
Also Brokeback Mountain made me weep uncontrollably, no lie. It was brilliant. And I’m totally not a gay dude.
I adore Robert Downey Jr. Can’t wait ’til Christmas!
RDJ next to Jude Law…no contest. Sorry Jude. Go impregnate someone why don’t you.
“I have been told the film will not disappoint any hardcore Holmes fans”
Too late. The entire movie is an insult.
Three gay dudes made a movie, of course it’s gonna be a little gay. I for one can’t wait to see it.
Fer sure, RDJ is tweaking Hollywood. He’s in the position to do that. He proved Hollywood was wrong, by coming back, fit as a fiddle and ready for box office gold. Good for RDJ, and I will be there to buy tickets to his films every time.
RDJ has seen the ugly face of Hollywood when he was down, he has earned the right to rub some lemon juice on the paper cuts now that he worked his way back up.
I think the whole thing is hilarious myself. Robert has such a wonderful sense of humor. As for Jude, even if Robert were a homosexual (but he isn’t) he could do soooooo much better than Jude Law! Jude wouldn’t stand a chance. Robert’s wife is gorgeous and so is he. I think he is just having too much fun with the people from Warners’ and he deserves to have some fun! They should be more embarassed that Jude can’t remember how many children he actually has!
As a straight woman, I LOVE that RDJ is even putting this thought in our head…YUMMMMMMY! These men are uber-hot!
Jude Law will brush the hate right off him.
Love You Jude.
I can’t wait to see Jude and RDJ in the movie.
He’s probably just wanting to mess with the studio execs. I don’t recall who gave him his big comeback break but I doubt it was them.
I don’t know about homoerotic, but they sure look a bit lit, if you know what I mean.
I like to think they’re also catering to the women who love the thought of two gorgeous men getting it on–of which there are many. Hell, this movie’s got something for everyone!
Great,he looks high again. I’m starting to wonder if he’s no longer sober. Besides his appearance in these photos (and others I’ve seen recently) I’ve seen him photographed coming out of bars and clubs with Jude Law and his S.H. castmates. What is a recovering addict doing in a bar? It’s not a good sign.
does everything need to be gay’d up? wtf?
brits are all a little gay and downey has obvious issues regarding his sexuality that have fueled his addiction problems. it’s no big suprise that there might be some allusions to a close relationship between watson and holmes in the movie..but the way all involved are ‘joking’ about it is actually rather insulting.
He’s just joking around, I don’t think he’s messing with any executives. Lucy Loo you don’t know what you’re talking about!
i second Erin’s comment, the only rason i would see this film is BECAUSE of RDJ’s comments and for some reason i kinda got a bit of a crush on him now-yum!
I normally am just a lurker but I had to just say…I’m almost 100% positive that Sherlock was originally meant to be written as asexual. Not gay or straight.
RDJ is old enough to be my father and yet somehow it doesn’t bother me that I think he is completely YUMMY. (I’m 21 btw.) Johnny Depp does the same thing for me.
I’m just happy to see him doing so well. It’s been a long time coming for him.
he’s not gay.. i like this movie and every RDJ movie.. coz, i’m a big fan of him 🙂