LOS ANGELES — There was a time in the early 2000s when studios wouldn’t touch Robert Downey Jr. It took a lot of convincing by Jon Favreau to get a studio to take a chance on him with “Ironman,” given Downey’s substance abuse issues. Now, the sequel to his second franchise film, “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” opened Friday and there’s no sign of slowing down.
Q: Is it easier to create a new character or to return to an existing one?
A: Kind of both. I guess if I were an entrepreneur, I’d be the guy who wants to be the start-up guy because there’s a whole other skill set that comes with maintaining a brand. Fortunately for this second “Sherlock” installment, we really had a nice team of people who were thoughtful and appreciative that we made it to the point that we got the opportunity to do this again and have a chance to make a superior piece of entertainment if possible.
Q: Is it as creatively gratifying because you’ve already experienced the character?
A: Well, I always forget. I always think I’m better the first time before I’ve been told I did it right. I don’t really believe that an actor does anything right or wrong … just that people either resonate with your movie or they don’t. The main thing here was that (co-star) Jude (Law) and I were a convincing and entertaining duo in this kind of genre picture. Friends’ daughters thought it was cool and made them want to go back and read the original Sherlock Holmes novels. We did our job.
Q: Director Guy Ritchie’s style is so fast-cut and laden with special effects. Is that significantly different for you as a performer?
A: Yes. He’s very experienced and he could take a camera apart and put it back together. He’s probably tried every visual way of working and that style was naturally borne out of what he likes to do. But his style is evolving too, and as he and I are looking at the back nine now, I don’t think we’re out there trying to make our bones or be super-cool. “Game of Shadows” is a bit more elegant and efficient than the first movie was and I feel like, this time, we have a very strong story line.
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Q: Entertainment Weekly recently put out a survey of your best movies. I did something similar with my viewers. The top vote-getter was “Less Than Zero.” What’s your favorite?
A: I’d like to put “Sherlock” on top for the next three weeks. Seriously, it just depends when you catch me. I was giving Ben (Stiller) a Charlie Chaplin (comedy) Award the other night, and we were in this reverie about “Tropic Thunder.” And then if I see Jon Favreau, it’s the movie that changed my life, “Iron Man.” So, it depends on what jogs my memory.
Q: Are there any you’d like to forget?
A: I don’t know. … I’ve forgotten them already.
Travel expenses paid for by Warner Bros. and WGN-TV. Watch my interviews 4 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday on WGN-Ch. 9 Morning News. My radio show airs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays on WGN-AM 720 and wgnradio.com. You can also go to wgntv.com/deanslist.