He donned various disguises during the first Sherlock Holmes movie.
But it seems Guy Ritchie is going for even more bizarre fronts for Robert Downey Jr.’s detective character in the sequel.
The 46-year-old actor went undercover as a Chinese beggar man as he shot scenes for the new movie in London last week.
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Who’s that man? Robert Downey Jr. was virtually unrecognisable as he went undercover as a Chinese beggar on the set of Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows
Covering up his hair with a bald skull cap, and hiding behind a long beard and moustache, Downey Jr was virtually unrecognisable as he filmed alongside Rachel McAdams for Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows.
McAdams, meanwhile, who will reprise her role as Holmes’ love interest Irene Adler in the sequel, donned a luxurious blue satin dress, complete with a bustle, for the shoot.
The pretty 32-year-old actress appeared at times to be struggling to contain her mirth as Downey Jr attempted to make her laugh with his off-the-wall antics on the set.
Larking around: Downey Jr. looked very pleased with his outfit, and messed around for the cameras on set
Co-stars: The actor shot scenes for the upcoming crime caper alongside Rachel McAdams, who plays Irene Adler in the film
Thew new film will see Holmes and sidekick Watson face criminal mastermind Professor Moriarty, played by Jared Harris.
A set insider revealed recently: ‘Moriarty is Holmes’s intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective.’
Talking about working with Downey Jr, Mad Men star Harris said: ‘Robert, yes. I loved him in the first movie, and I have even more respect for him now. I found him to be very generous and attentive. He wants people around him to do their best work.
‘Sometimes you run into these things where people aren’t like that, maybe they’re insecure. He’s not insecure about talent at all. He wants other people to raise their game. I loved it. I really enjoyed working with him. I can’t say enough highly about him. I think he’s very special.’
Feeling blue: Rachel started the day in a luxurious velvet coat, before revealing her corseted dress
The action-packed reboot of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detectives tales also stars Girl With The Dragon Tattoo star Noomi Rapace as the hero’s love interest.
In the new movie, the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead and all the evidence points to suicide.But Sherlock Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder and Moriarty is responsible.
Mixing business with pleasure, Holmes tracks the clues to an underground gentlemen’s club, where he and his brother Mycroft Holmes – Stephen Fry – are toasting Doctor Watson on his last night of bachelorhood.
Pit stop: New father Ritchie was also seen having a quick coffee break as they shot scenes last week
It is there that Holmes encounters Sim (Noomi Rapace), a gypsy fortune teller, who sees more than she is telling and whose unwitting involvement in the prince’s murder makes her the killer’s next target. Holmes barely manages to save her life and, in return, she reluctantly agrees to help him.
The investigation becomes ever more dangerous as it leads Holmes, Watson and Sim across the continent, from England to France to Germany and finally to Switzerland.
But the cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead as he spins a web of death and destruction – all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history.
In the high-octane trailer, Sim is seen reading Holmes’s tarot cards and warning him: ‘The cards can illuminate your future. I have a feeling you’re in danger.’
However, Sherlock archly replies: ‘Actually, I prefer to read your fortune. I see your next client is here to kill you,’ before he intercepts said would-be assassin and thwarts his plan with his fists.
Jude as Watson also speaks for many in the trailer when, bowler hatted and reading a newspaper in a bar, sighs: ‘Oh, I have missed you, Holmes.’
The movie, also starring Geraldine James and Eddie Marsan, opens in the UK on 16th December.
