595-596

*Chapter 595: Get Your Stinky Pig Hooves Off Me*

At the end of April, The Great Detective Sherlock Holmes began filming in London, England.

The movie revolves around Holmes and Watson teaming up to investigate a series of gruesome murders targeting young women, eventually clashing wits with Duke Blackwood and unmasking the true culprit.

Luca plays the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes, while Benedict "Batch" Cumberbatch takes on the role of Dr. Watson.

When Luca first heard about Batch playing Watson, he was utterly baffled. After all, Batch became famous for portraying the iconic Sherlock Holmes—his rendition was even considered more classic than Robert Downey Jr.'s take on the character.

Now, having the authentic Sherlock Holmes play Watson felt odd, like participating in a bizarre game of Spot the Real Sherlock Holmes.  

Luca, as Holmes, found himself working alongside an immensely talented "Holmes" as Watson, which was quite the pressure cooker.

Batch, at 31, was a graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, who debuted in 2000. Initially focused on TV dramas and stage plays, he gained recognition for his roles in works like Hawking, Silent Witness, Nancy's History, As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, and Oh! What a Lovely War, earning numerous accolades along the way.

It wasn’t until the last couple of years that Batch began accepting film roles, mainly as a supporting actor.

Two years prior, he had worked with Luca on Atonement, where his performance garnered significant attention. This likely influenced the casting decision, where Batch was chosen over other famous British actors like Jude Law and James McAvoy for his distinctive appearance, even if it wasn’t traditionally handsome.

Coming from a theatrical background, Batch’s acting was exceptionally nuanced. Before filming began, Luca thought Batch was perfect for Sherlock Holmes. However, once the cameras started rolling, his portrayal of Watson was equally flawless.

This made Luca, Alexander, even more determined to elevate his performance.

To fully embody the role, Luca pushed himself to the limit, grappling daily with the director, Batch, himself, and the literary legacy of Sherlock Holmes. This relentless dedication left him mentally and physically drained—he lost weight, became increasingly neurotic, and even developed mild depression. Outside of acting, he didn’t want to do anything or talk to anyone.

“You look like you belong in a psych ward—nobody would notice the difference,” Keira Knightley teased with a grin.

Luca shot her a glare. “Did you come here just to laugh at me?”

“Of course. When I heard you were depressed, I wondered if you’d consider jumping off a building. If you hesitated on the rooftop, I could give you a little push.”

Keira chuckled.

“And I’d make sure to drag you down with me. It’s called If I Jump, You Jump.”

Luca grabbed her and pinned her down on the sofa.

“Stop messing around—the door’s still open,” she said, laughing as she pushed his face away.

“No worries. I’m already a scoundrel. What’s one more scandal?”

Luca smirked, lying on top of her and gazing at her face.

“Hmph!”

Keira wrinkled her nose. “I thought you were depressed, but you’re still the same lecherous, shameless jerk as ever.”

“Go on.”

Luca grinned as he rested his chin on his hand.

“You’re also a creep!”

Keira shot back.

Luca nodded approvingly. “You’re absolutely right. So, Miss Knightley, as beautiful, adorable, and vulnerable as you are, what do you think this creep wants to do right now?”

“Hmph, nothing good, I’m sure.”

“Bingo! How about I dedicate tonight to you?”

Luca leaned closer, letting his hands roam.

“Stop it, you pervert! Let me go!”

Keira pushed at his chin and kneed him in the stomach, fiercely resisting.

“No way. In a moment, I’ll show you just how twisted I can be. What if I tied your hands and feet and gave you a proper punishment? Wouldn’t that be fun?”

“Don’t you dare!”

Keira panted, her cheeks flushed, her eyes shimmering with a mix of defiance and something else.

“Ha! I’m a pervert—why wouldn’t I dare?”

Slap, slap!  

“You jerk! I’ll bite you!”

“Ow, really biting? Not the jaw, I’ve got filming tomorrow!”

Knock, knock!  

“What are you two up to?”

Rachel McAdams walked in, carrying a tray with tea and snacks, her smile full of mischief.

“Rachel, you’re here! Keira called me a creep, so I’m teaching her a lesson,” Luca explained, letting go of Keira.

“You jerk!” Keira muttered, adjusting her hair and clothes, her face still bright red.

“Luca, you’re a guy—you can’t bully girls. Then again, since you’re a creep, I guess that explains everything,” Rachel joked, setting the tray down.

“Rachel, thanks for this,” Luca said.

“No trouble.”

Rachel smiled at them both, then stood up with her empty tray. “I’ll leave you two to it. Keira, remember: when dealing with a creep, don’t hold back—go for the kill!”

“Don’t give her ideas! She’s already too rough,” Luca protested.

“Exactly what I want,” Rachel quipped, laughing as she left.

Exhausted from the playful chaos, the three eventually settled down for tea. By 8 p.m., Rachel gave them a knowing smirk as she headed out.

“You two have fun,” she said before leaving the room.

“What were you two talking about?” Keira asked Luca, her eyes glinting with curiosity.

“Just friends. Close friends.”

“Doesn’t look like it,” she replied skeptically.

Keira pressed him further, analyzing their relationship with sharp intuition.

“Are you siblings?” she asked.

“Sort of,” Luca answered.

“Have you ever…you know?”

Luca raised an eyebrow.

“Gross! You’re despicable! Let me go—you creep!”

“Haha, too late. I’m officially adopting you as my sworn sister. From now on, we share everything, including a bed!”

“No way! Let me go, you pervert!”

Luca carried her off despite her protests, slamming the door behind them.

(End of Chapter)  

*Chapter 596: Don’t Blame Me for Rubbing Salt in Your Wounds*

With Kyra and Rachel by his side, Luca was much more at ease, avoiding sinking into depression over a single role.

Sometimes, however, the best way to truly embody a character is to immerse yourself completely into their world.

To think as the character thinks, speak as the character speaks, love as the character loves—essentially transforming into someone else.

If he couldn’t achieve that level of immersion, the director would constantly yell “Cut,” and his co-star, Benedict Cumberbatch, would shine so brightly in their scenes together that Luca, the leading man, would pale in comparison.

Even more critical was the self-imposed pressure. If he was going to be an actor, he had to be an exceptional one.

Failing to portray the character properly, sacrificing nothing for the role, or not achieving the highest level of performance would be an unforgivable betrayal of his own standards.

Due to both external pressures and his own perfectionism, Luca began to unravel.

At first, he was just Luca. Gradually, he alternated between being himself and the character. Eventually, he fully became the character, jittery and eccentric.

Seeing him in such a state, Rachel started visiting him every evening after work to comfort and support him, letting him vent his frustrations.

After over two months of this grueling process, the film was finally completed.

The entire crew breathed a collective sigh of relief. With a budget exceeding $80 million, this was a massive production in every sense.

During filming, everyone—from the smallest crew member to the leading actors—felt the unrelenting tension and dared not relax, especially the key players.

Director Guy Ritchie, who had been a cult film maestro and one of Britain’s top directors before 2000, had seen a string of failures for almost a decade since then.

He needed this movie to prove himself—not as Madonna’s ex-husband, but as a truly great director.

Benedict Cumberbatch, who had been known mostly for television roles and minor film appearances, saw this as a golden opportunity.

Although he wasn’t the lead, this was a high-profile production with Luca Kelly, a top Hollywood actor, in the starring role.

Sharing the screen with Luca was a dream opportunity for many. If this film succeeded, it could open up a whole new world for him.

Then there was Rachel McAdams, who, despite her talent, had struggled in Hollywood.

Apart from her standout roles in Mean Girls and The Notebook in 2004, her other films had been less impressive, with few leading roles coming her way.

Landing the female lead in Sherlock Holmes was a major breakthrough for her.

Finally, there was Luca, who carried the heaviest burden of all. The character of Sherlock Holmes was iconic.

Over 75 actors had portrayed Holmes since his creation, and surpassing their performances to deliver a definitive portrayal for the silver screen required Luca’s utmost effort.

Adding to the pressure was Robert Downey Jr.’s recent portrayal of Holmes, which had set a high bar. To outshine Downey, Luca knew he had to bring his A-game and deliver something extraordinary.

Rachel often struggled to understand his intensity. “You’re already doing an amazing job,” she would say. “Why keep pushing yourself so hard?”

Luca would only smile and reply, “I want to win the Oscar for Best Actor.”

After two exhausting months, Luca was completely drained. The final scenes were particularly grueling, leaving him barely able to push through.

When it was all over, he felt both utterly spent and incredibly fulfilled.

“It’s all in the audience’s hands now,” he murmured, gazing out the window.

“Luca, cheers!”

At the wrap party, Guy Ritchie approached him with a raised glass.

Luca smiled lightly and clinked glasses with him.

“So, Luca, what’s next for you now that the film is done?”

Ritchie asked with a laugh.

“Rest. Sleep. I’m not getting out of bed unless the world ends.”

“Ha! That’s the spirit I’d go for too,” Ritchie chuckled before taking a sip of his drink. Then, his expression turned serious.

“Luca, I know I pushed you hard during filming, but I hope you don’t hold it against me.

People in the industry told me that the only way to get the best out of you was to push you to your limits.

I didn’t believe it at first, but now I do. Your performance was incredible.”

“Thanks,” Luca said with a wry smile. “But let me set the record straight—those rumors aren’t entirely accurate. You don’t need to push me to get a good performance. I can deliver on my own.”

The rumor had originated from Woody Allen and been corroborated by Christopher Nolan, gaining traction among directors.

As Luca’s reputation grew, fewer directors dared to push him. Guy Ritchie was an exception.

“Ha! Luca, I think the rumors are spot on. When I pushed you, your performance went from a solid B to an A, and when you were on the brink of collapse, you hit an S-level performance.

Every time you reached that state, the entire directing team and I were ecstatic—it was thrilling to watch!”

Ritchie marveled, earning a dark look from Luca.

This guy sounded like a sadistic executioner relishing the process of breaking someone down.

“Well, Guy,” Luca said with a feigned look of concern, “I heard about your troubles with Madonna. No chance of reconciliation? You two always seemed so in love.”

Ritchie shook his head. “No chance. Madonna’s controlling nature became unbearable. She didn’t just control my personal life but also my work. The constant conflicts made a split inevitable.”

“That’s a shame. I hope you find someone more suitable in the future.”

“Thanks,” Ritchie said, clinking glasses before walking away, visibly affected.

Luca smirked. “You push me, I’ll rub salt in your wounds. It’s only fair.”

“Luca, a toast to you!”

Cumberbatch approached, raising his glass.

“To me? Isn’t that a bit formal?”

Luca raised an eyebrow.

Cumberbatch’s signature smirk appeared. “Not at all. You’re an actor worth admiring. Working with you was both challenging and rewarding. I’ve learned a lot from you, so I owe you my thanks.”

“Working with me was stressful? Funny, I felt like you were the one putting pressure on me.”

The two locked eyes and chuckled. Both were formidable in their own right, so no further words were needed.

They chatted for a while, discussing acting philosophies and finding a mutual respect born of shared experiences.

“Cheers!”

Clink.  

After Cumberbatch left, Rachel walked over with a cup of tea and swapped it for the whiskey in Luca’s hand.

“You should drink less. You’ve been mentally drained lately, and too much alcohol can lead to addiction.”

Luca didn’t argue, smiling at her. “You’re starting to sound like a big sister—or a housekeeper.”

“Do you like it?”

Rachel’s eyes sparkled as she tilted her head.

“Of course. But won’t it tire you out?”

Luca brushed a strand of her hair aside.

“Not at all. I find it fulfilling.”

Rachel’s lips curled into a soft smile.

Luca gazed at her and said, “Let’s go home. I want you. So much.”

“Okay,” Rachel replied softly.

---

(End of Chapter)