Henry Cavill steps into the shoes of the famed Victorian England-era detective Sherlock Holmes again in Enola Holmes 2, which sees the older brother of Millie Bobby Brown’s Enola Holmes learn from his sister’s own top-notch sleuthing. Following the events of 2020’s Enola Holmes, the Netflix film’s titular character helms her own detective agency and pursues her second case — this one involving missing girls and industrial corruption. Although he stands as a secondary character in both Enola Holmes film adaptations, Sherlock occupies an influential space in Enola’s journey, which evolves over time.
Enola Holmes 2 is directed by Harry Bradbeer and additionally stars David Thewlis, Louis Partridge, Susan Wokoma, Adeel Akhtar, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, and Helena Bonham Carter. Netflix’s Enola Holmes films are based on The Enola Holmes Mysteries book series authored by Nancy Springer. Cavill, meanwhile, is widely recognized for embodying the iconic DC superhero Superman in four movies — a tenure that commenced in 2013’s Man of Steel. Following Cavill’s most recent credited appearance as Superman in 2021’s Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the actor’s future in the role remained uncertain. However, Cavill’s recent cameo appearance in Black Adam‘s post-credits scene preceded the actor’s confirmation that he will return to play Superman in the foreseeable future.
In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Cavill spoke about reprising his role as the renowned detective, the importance of Sherlock’s portrayal in the Enola Holmes films, and his vision for Superman’s arc in the DC Universe.
Henry Cavill On Enola Holmes 2 & Superman
Screen Rant: What was it like for you to rejoin this cast and play Sherlock Holmes for a second time?
Henry Cavill: Loads of fun. Absolutely love to have the whole team back together. I missed Sam [Claflin] desperately, but to have the whole team back together was wonderful, and it was just a great opportunity to delve deeper into these characters and to tell fun stories with an incredibly important message interwoven in there.
How do you think Sherlock changes as an individual and as a brother to Enola from the first movie to the sequel?
Henry Cavill: Interestingly, there’s a role reversal that goes on between the two. In the first movie, we have Enola, who’s been fairly cloistered albeit by her mother and who’s an extraordinary and exceptional character and individual, but she’s not world wise. Sherlock comes in, and he ends up being the world wise guy, and he ends up being a catalyst for her growth.
But in the second movie, it’s the opposite. She comes in with wisdom, she teaches him, and she becomes a catalyst for his growth. I think that’s a really important piece to represent, especially coming from a family of brothers. It’s not always the older brother or the older sibling who has the wisdom. The wisdom goes both ways, and I love that about this movie, that Sherlock ends up being the one who is taught so much.
What can audiences gain from seeing Sherlock Holmes portrayed in this manner, taking a back seat to his younger sister?
Henry Cavill: It’s difficult to say what audiences can gain. I think that’s entirely relative to who the audience member is. I think what’s wonderful is that Sherlock is a color to this universe rather than the center of this universe. The center of this universe is Enola, and that provides a different outlook and a different perspective — which is very much what these movies are about, of the Victorian world. It shows us a different way, and I think for young women around the world, there’s some really important messaging in there.
Outside of Sherlock Holmes, you’ve played another iconic character in the form of Superman. Now that you’re officially returning to that role, what are your hopes for where you can take Superman’s story in the DCU?
Henry Cavill: There is so much in the way of conversations to be had. Obviously, I have a very close connection to the character. And there is something extraordinarily special about him; extraordinarily special about his capacity to give and to love. I don’t mean romantically; I mean his love for Earth and for the people who live here, and to make people feel powerful—to make people feel like Superman themselves.
I have plenty of desires for this, of course, which will be discussed more in time. But the most important thing, which I will be aiming for, is for the audience to leave the cinema and to feel like they can fly, to feel like they can protect, and to feel like they want to give to everyone else. That would be my goal.
About Enola Holmes 2
Fresh off the triumph of solving her first case, Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) follows in the footsteps of her famous brother, Sherlock (Henry Cavill), and opens her own agency – only to find that life as a female detective-for-hire isn’t as easy as it seems. Resigned to accepting the cold realities of adulthood, she is about to close shop when a penniless matchstick girl offers Enola her first official job: to find her missing sister.
But this case proves to be far more puzzling than expected, as Enola is thrown into a dangerous new world – from London’s sinister factories and colorful music halls, to the highest echelons of society and 221B Baker Street itself. As the sparks of a deadly conspiracy ignite, Enola must call upon the help of friends – and Sherlock himself – to unravel her mystery. The game, it seems, has found its feet again!
