Jan 21, 2011 11:44 GMT  ·  By
Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law return as partners in fighting crime in “Sherlock Holmes” sequel
   Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law return as partners in fighting crime in “Sherlock Holmes” sequel

The second “Sherlock Holmes” movie is now under production, with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law back together with director Guy Ritchie. Entertainment Tonight

has video from the set, along with an interview with the two stars.

Ritchie, though an established director, was more of a niche personality until the first “Sherlock Holmes” came out. It was literally the movie that made him a box office hit worldwide.

Since the film was so well received by critics and audiences alike, it was only to be expected to have a sequel for it as well – and it will arrive in theaters on December 16.

Jude Law says for ET part of the reason he and Downey agreed to come back was because working on it was so much “fun.” They had always been open to the idea of a follow-up.

“We said, if I remember rightly, on the last one that we had so much fun, and if everyone else would too, that if they wanted us to do more, we would – and it seems they wanted us to do more, so that’s why we’re back,” Jude explains.

When ET dropped by on set, the two actors were shooting a scene where Robert is dressed in drag – though he does make for a very unconvincing woman, one may as well add.

There will be plenty more disguises in the second film, the actors explain, more action scenes and, therefore double the fun that came with the first release.

“There is something – I call it ‘sequelitis’ – about having a movie that takes off and is set up to do a couple more. I just feel you have to work harder and not compare it to anything else, because it’ll just drive you crazy,” Robert says.

All jokes aside, “Sherlock Holmes 2” (it hasn’t been named differently yet) is all about the chemistry between Sherlock and Watson, and how they function as a team in difficult situations.

“The idea this time was to remember what put us in the position to be able to join forces again. The tone of Sherlock and Watson this time around [is darker] – they’re actually up against their greatest nemesis, therefore we’re afforded a little more levity [in some of the scenes],” Robert Downey Jr. explains.