Yesterday as the capital bathed in some unseasonable sunshine giant garden gnomes invaded Leicester Square for a family gala screening of Sherlock Gnomes, the follow up to the most acclaimed clay-based Shakespeare adaptation Gnomeo and Juliet.

The film stars Emily Blunt, James McAvoy, Mary J. Blige, Stephen Merchant, Maggie Smith, Michael Caine, Johnny Depp, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Ashley Jensen, Matt Lucas and Dexter Fletcher. Sir Elton John also has contributed music and voice to the project, although in a slightly more family friendly take than his role in Matthew Vaughn’s Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

In this film two garden gnomes, Gnomeo & Juliet, recruit the renowned detective Sherlock Gnomes to investigate the mysterious disappearance of other garden ornaments. The director John Stevenson talked passionately about respecting the characters from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as well as the number of Sherlockian Easter Eggs which are present in the film.

You can see his interview, along with James McAvoy, Stephen Merchant and others below. Colin Hart and Zehra Phelan were our eyes, ears and mouth on the carpet, here’s how they got on.

Sherlock Gnomes is released in the UK on the 11th of May.

 

Sherlock Gnomes Premiere Interviews

Sherlock Gnomes Official Synopsis

The beloved garden gnomes from GNOMEO AND JULIET are back for a whole new adventure in London. When Gnomeo and Juliet first arrive in the city with their friends and family, their biggest concern is getting their new garden ready for spring. However, they soon discover that someone is kidnapping garden gnomes all over London. When Gnomeo and Juliet return home to find that everyone in their garden is missing – there’s only one gnome to call…SHERLOCK GNOMES.

The famous detective and sworn protector of London’s garden gnomes arrives with his sidekick Watson to investigate the case. The mystery will lead our gnomes on a rollicking adventure where they will meet all new ornaments and explore an undiscovered side of the city.

This action-packed sequel features the voices of returning cast, James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Maggie Smith, Stephen Merchant and Ozzy Osbourne, plus Johnny Depp as Sherlock Gnomes, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Watson and Mary J. Blige as Irene.