The DC Comics character of Lobo has, somewhat improbably, been the subject of numerous attempts at cinematic adaptation, including the long, long-ago rumored Superman movie that would pit the Kryptonian against the big blue alien biker.  Unlike many of the squeaky clean inhabitants of the DC Universe, Lobo is a different beast, a grizzled alien with no morals and a love of the old ultra-violence.  So it's somewhat surprising that Warner Bros has hired the director of Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore to develop Lobo.

Joel Silver is without a doubt one of the most successful Hollywood producers of all-time. His career goes back over thirty-years and he is responsible for some of the most popular movies ever including 48 Hrs., Predator, Die Hard, the Lethal Weapon series, and The Matrix franchise.

Producer Susan Downey first worked with Silver on the 2002 film Ghost Ship, and their collaboration continued on such films as Cradle 2 the Grave, and House of Wax. But it was the movie Gothika that probably had the biggest impact on Susan Downey personally, as that is where she met her now husband, two-time Oscar-nominated actor Robert Downey Jr.

Silver had first worked with Downey Jr. in the early ‘80s on Weird Science, and was no stranger to the actor’s brilliant, yet unusual body of work. Silver and the Downeys would eventually go on to make the 2005 cult classic comedy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang together, but after the actor’s inexplicable success in a series of films based on a certain Marvel Comics superhero (Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and next summer’s The Avengers), Silver and the married couple wanted to create their own movie franchise at Warner Bros. They began with ‘2009s smash hit action-mystery Sherlock Holmes, and now hope to continue that success with Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, which opens in theaters on December 16^th.

Opening in theaters on December 16th is the long awaited sequel to '2009s hit action mystery Sherlock Holmes, entitled Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Director Guy Ritchie returns to helm the second film of the franchise that once again stars Oscar-nominee Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man 2) in the title role and fellow Oscar nominee Jude Law (Hugo) as his faithful sidekick Dr. Watson. Also making a return are actors Rachel McAdams (Midnight in Paris), Eddie Marsan (Hancock), and Kelly Reilly (Me and Orson Welles), who are joined by series newcomers Noomi Rapace (Prometheus), Stephen Fry (V For Vendetta), and Jared Harris (TV's Mad Men) as the villain Professor Moriarty. 

IAR's managing editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down and chat with writers Kieran and Michele Mulroney (Justice League) about their work on Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. The writers discussed the new film, joining the franchise, the "bromance" between Holmes and Watson, limiting Rachel MacAdams' role and creating a new female character, developing Moriarty's evil scheme, and introducing Sherlock's brother Mycroft Holmes. 

Sherlock Holmes may end up starting a new mini-trend, if any of a number of projects in developments at major studios actual come to fruition.  Take a recognizable literary or historical figure about whom the public knows just enough to have a general idea of they are and what they do, then add a bunch of action and a charismatic lead actor to provide an edgy variation on said figure.  Market like crazy and voila, you might just have yourself some fried box office gold.  Universal is actively applying this formula to Leonardo, an action-adventure that would center around the classic Renaissance Man, Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci.

Much in the same way that Batman Begins ended with a teasing promise that a sequel would introduce The Joker, 2009's Sherlock Holmes concluded with assurances that another round of ass-kicking and detective work would find Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective going head-to-head with his nemesis, Professor Moriarty.  A new featurette promoting Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows gives our most extensive look at Jared Harris as Moriarty, along with plenty of other new footage and interview snippets featuring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, and returning director Guy Ritchie.

Rather than focusing on Holmes finally meeting his intellectual match, the marketing for this sequel has thrown oodles of speed-ramping action at audiences, demonstrating again and again that Holmes and Watson will continue to beat bad guys senseless and get shot at.  A lot.  This new featurette isn't too different, but it sprinkles in some tiny ideas of the actual plot.  Not many, but a few.

Two years back, Warner Bros made a blockbuster out of the world's most famous detective in Sherlock Holmes by giving Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's brilliant investigator a more robust physicality and sending him through a bunch of large-scale action and fight scenes.  Though there was absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind that the upcoming sequel Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows would provide more of the same, the marketing campaign is singlemindedly focused on showing audiences that this sequel will indeed feature no shortage of speed-ramping, gun-firing action.  Since it's impossible to put speed-ramping action on a poster, four new character posters for the film show Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, and Jared Harris each wielding a weapon, from a club to throwing knives and couple of handguns.