Robert Downey Jr. Says He Is Going To Play "Sherlock Holmes" Better Than It's Ever Been Done Before

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

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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, England, Wednesday, 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."