It's been more than a decade since fans got to sit in a theater and watch Robert Downey
Jr. and Jude Law hunt criminals through the back alleys of London in Guy Ritchie's
"Sherlock Holmes" franchise. But will the game, as they say, ever be afoot once more?
Even before "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" hit theaters,
a third movie in the series was announced, with writer Drew Pearce — who was then
prepping "Iron Man 3" for Marvel — hired to pen the script. Though no release date was revealed,
it wasn't expected to be far away. But scheduling soon became a major obstacle.
In September 2012, Jude Law remarked on these delays, telling Collider:
"I mean there's certainly talk of it, and I know there's a script being played around with,
but Downey's a busy boy and I'm a busy boy,
so we'll see. But we want to [do another one]. We are a very happy team and we have a lot
of fun and we also think there's still a lot of legs in the duo."
Between Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, and director Guy Ritchie always being in demand,
it seems like something had to give if "Sherlock Holmes 3" were to ever
move forward. That "give" finally gave in 2019 when Dexter Fletcher
signed on to replace Ritchie as the sequel's director, with a planned 2021 release date.
But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the project became one of many to be put on hold.
As of 2022, Fletcher remained unsure of when
"Sherlock Holmes 3" might finally see the light of day, telling Collider:
"I don't know what the timeline of that is, unfortunately,
but I believe it should be [happening]. It's fantastic. I think it's about all the
right people being at the right place, at the right time. I think it's that."
The cast of the first two "Sherlock Holmes" movies have had a lot to say
about the prospect of a follow-up — starting with the man who directed the first film,
Guy Ritchie. In 2022, he spoke with Collider about the long-gestating third entry,
and said it all depends on the movie's star, remarking:
"So Robert [Downey Jr.] wanted to be in charge of this. The ball's in his court,
so he's in charge of the script, he's in charge of the whole thing. I've moonwalked
out of that until there's a time for me to get involved."
"He'll no longer be party to my investigations. He's out of the equation."
Considering that Downey has become one of the most powerful stars in
Hollywood over the last 10 years, it can be assumed that he could use his
clout to take charge of "Sherlock Holmes 3." So what has he had to say about it?
So far, the actor has been tight-lipped, but his entourage spoke to The Wrap in 2023 with
an encouraging update. Downey's wife and producing partner Susan Downey explained:
"We had lunch together with Robert, the three of us, and ["Sherlock Holmes 3"] was a very
specific topic of conversation. So yes, it is in the hopper. We're going to do it when it's right,
with the right people, but it is a priority for the company and a priority for Robert."
If "Sherlock Holmes 3" ever does come to pass, what will it be about? The finale
of "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" sees the end of Holmes' nemesis Moriarty,
as well as the fake-out death of Holmes himself, who returns in the film's closing moments.
The third entry could pick up right where that scene leaves off,
but with more than a decade having passed since the second film debuted, that might
not be possible. What we do know is that Robert Downey Jr. has big ambitions for the threequel.
In a 2014 Reddit AMA, he said:
"We have a 'Sherlock 3' in development. We want it to be the best of the series,
so that's a pretty tall order."
Though some might scoff at a return for Moriarty, the long lay-off could come in
handy here. The villain's return from death — whether through a literal resurrection or
his own crafty fake-out — could provide star power from actor Jared Harris and a worthy
adversary looking for a long-awaited rematch against the London detective.
"Conclusion: Inevitable."
Whether the film reintroduces Holmes' most famous foe, adapts a classic literary tale
we've yet to see on screen, or creates an entirely new enemy for Holmes to face,
everyone involved wants to make sure it's a story worthy of a third film. Jude Law told Empire:
"We want it to be better than the other two. We
want to make sure it's smarter and cleverer, but in the same realm."
The world of movies has changed a great deal since the first "Sherlock Holmes"
film hit theaters all the way back in 2009. Between the explosion of cinematic universes
and the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video,
it's harder and harder for new movies to make their mark and find success.
Throw in the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the entire theater industry around
the world and there's no telling what kind of a box office "Sherlock Holmes 3" would net.
Moreover, Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories have garnered a number
of popular adaptations since 2009. Most prominent is the BBC's "Sherlock" series,
starring Downey's MCU co-star Benedict Cumberbatch. The show, which debuted in 2010,
quickly became one of the hottest series on television. For many modern viewers,
Cumberbatch's Sherlock is the definitive on-screen take on the character. Stateside,
CBS' "Elementary" enjoyed a wildly successful seven seasons on the air, led by Jonny Lee Miller
as Sherlock and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson. Moreover, Netflix netted a major hit with "Enola
Holmes." Henry Cavill plays the famed detective in this film, which got a sequel in 2022.
That's not where the adaptations end, either. Recall the notorious 2018 flop
that is "Holmes & Watson." There's also the 2015 drama "Mr. Holmes," starring Ian McKellen as an
aging version of Sherlock. Finally, there is the upcoming CBS series "Watson," which is,
of course, centered around Holmes' right-hand man. Have audiences had
their fill of Arthur Conan Doyle's great sleuth? It's possible that "Sherlock
Holmes 3" might simply be a bit too much Sherlock in an already Sherlock-heavy time.