Robert Downey Jr. Told Jude Law Working on a Marvel Film Is ‘Not About Trying to Understand Everything’
Jude Law starred in 2019’s Captain Marvel as Yon-Rogg. Before appearing in Captain Marvel, Law also starred in Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. His co-star from the Sherlock Holmes franchise is Robert Downey Jr., and the actor gave Law advice on joining the Marvel franchise.
Robert Downey Jr. helped Jude Law after he was cast in a Marvel film
Downey Jr. is best known for his role as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Sherlock Holmes was released in 2009, just after Downey Jr.’s Iron Man was released in 2008.
“He had just done the first Iron Man when we first worked together,” Law told Entertainment Weekly. “So I’ve sort of followed his journey and relationship with Marvel throughout, really.”
The two actors then starred together again in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows in 2011. Before Law began filming Captain Marvel, he caught up with Downey Jr.
“I don’t know that he ever gave me any advice, but he obviously had a great time making these. He talked a little bit about how [making a Marvel movie is like] fitting this one piece into a bigger picture that someone else has got their eyes on, and giving yourself over to that. It’s not about trying to understand everything. Just do your piece,” he said.
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Jude Law always admired the Marvel franchise
For Law, joining the MCU was a dream come true, as the actor had come to admire the franchise and studio.
“It just seemed like an interesting party to join in with at an interesting time in their ascendancy. That to me is an interesting playground to work in because suddenly you’ve got filmmakers who are looking at humor and script work and character, within an infrastructure that is obviously capable of creating enormous universes and worlds and special effects — while also not bogging down the creativity of the director,” Law said.
Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, also always wanted Law to become part of the MCU.
“He’s somebody we have admired for a long time and have wanted to find a role for in our movies, and as fate works in your favor, his part in this is extraordinary,” Feige told EW. “He really came to play.”
Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr. are close friends
In the Sherlock Holmes film franchise, Downey Jr. plays Sherlock Holmes and Law plays Dr. John Watson. The two actors get along well off-screen, and are known for their chemistry that developed from filming the Sherlock Holmes movies.
“Jude doesn’t like it when you say bromance,” Downey Jr. said in a 2011 interview.
“I think it belittles it,” Law said. “It’s more than that!”
“People talk about chemistry, but what does that really mean? We were just having lunch trying to figure it out, and we’re really grateful it comes across that way,” Downey said. “We work really hard, and we have respect for each other. Certain of us have been in sequels that sucked, and we wanted to try and avoid those pitfalls.”
A third Sherlock Holmes film that is currently untitled will be released on Dec. 21, 2021.
