Guy Ritchie ‘Young Sherlock’ Series Star Discusses Taking Over Iconic Role

Stepping into the role of Sherlock Holmes has always been a daunting task for actors, but the pressure of filling in the shoes of previous actors is nevertheless something to consider. Now, with a new Sherlock Holmes series from Guy Ritchie set to explore the early years of the iconic detective, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, who plays the titular character, recently shared his thoughts on the immense responsibility and expectations that come with it.

In an interview with Collider, Tiffin opened up about the excitement and pressure of stepping into the shoes of the world’s greatest detective, emphasizing that he has been a huge fan of Sherlock since childhood and that there is no better person than Ritchie to tell this narrative. He stated:

“Because I’ve grown up loving Sherlock, so I appreciate if anyone does another one, I’ll watch it and I’ll be the kind of person that goes, ‘I think Sherlock might have been a bit different’ So, I understood the pressure because I’d be on the other side too if it was someone else playing the role. But working with Guy, he’s so decisive and so good at what he does, it’s easy to trust him. From day one, he’d be saying, ‘Do it like this, or do it like that.’ He could be quite direct with his direction, which I really like.

There were those nerves, but it was excitement too, and an honor and privilege to play the character. But you’re right. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I felt some sort of responsibility. I felt like there was a mark to hit. You can’t just say it’s a completely fabricated character. He is how he is. People are going to have an idea of an expectation they have. And I don’t think there’s a better man for the job than Guy. I just trusted him so much. It was a pleasure. I’m really, really excited for people to see what we’ve done.”

Directed by Ritchie, Young Sherlock is an adaptation of Andrew Lane’s book series, which itself is an imitation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s original stories. While Ritchie is no stranger to the world of Sherlock Holmes — having previously helmed two films starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law — recounting the story of the titular character’s young version is an entirely different case.

Hero Fiennes Tiffin Has Big Shoes to Fill in ‘Young Sherlock’

Unlike previous portrayals—such as Henry Cavill’s flamboyant take in Enola Holmes or Benedict Cumberbatch’s coldly analytical version in Netflix’s Sherlock Holmes, the Prime Video adaptation introduces a younger Sherlock who has no experience solving crimes. The streaming series will feature an origin story for the timeless character, but it is not clear if it is directly connected to the Robert Downey Jr.-led films.

At the same time, people will have expectations of his personification (as he is aware), so it is safe to assume that Hero Fiennes Tiffin will need to push his acting skills beyond his limits in order to bring a brand-new version of Sherlock Holmes. For those unfamiliar, the series follows a 19-year-old Sherlock, who finds himself entangled in a mysterious murder at Oxford University, a case that shapes him into becoming the world’s greatest detective.

Source: Collider