Sherlock shocker as Holmes plays it buff

Robert Downey Jr gave US cinema bosses a sneak preview of his new take on Sherlock Holmes, which turns the cerebral detective into a wisecracking action hero who is handcuffed naked to a bed.

Cinema owners attending their annual ShoWest convention in Las Vegas got to see Downey’s Holmes in a bruising boxing match, diving from a tall building into the Thames and trading barbs with roommate Dr Watson, played by Jude Law, who complains about the detective’s slovenliness and nocturnal violin playing.