With “Sherlock Holmes” and “Sherlock Holmes: The Shadow Game,” director Guy Ritchie and his two stars Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law the eponymous master detective and his partner Watson back on screen in modern blockbuster guise – and hit a nerve with it. The two films together grossed more than a billion dollars worldwide, so after the release of part 2 in 2011, there were already plans for a third part…
… which, however, always blew out in the end. It became particularly concrete in 2019, when ‘Rocketman’ creator Dexter Fletcher, succeeding Guy Ritchie, finally had to get the sequel off the ground – before Corona thwarted his plans and things were canceled for the time being. Since then, it has become very quiet around “Sherlock Holmes 3”, but even twelve years after part 2, one should not give up hope, according to new statements by Guy Ritchie.
Robert Downey Jr. has the power…
In a new interview with the site Ritchie was again asked about the status of “Sherlock Holmes 3”. While the project still appears to be up-to-date, in response he shifted ultimate responsibility entirely to lead actor Robert Downey Jr.: “Honestly, I left that up to Robert,” Ritchie said. “He wanted to be in charge here. The ball is in his court, he’s in charge of the script, he’s in charge of the whole thing. I’ve backed off from it until the time comes when I’m involved again.”
So it sounds like Sherlock Holmes 3 is more dependent than ever on Robert Downey Jr. That may not be surprising in itself, but the former Marvel star seems to have even more control over the whole project than is usually the case with actors, after all Ritchie speaks (perhaps a bit sharply) that Downey Jr. is responsible for the entire project, including the screenplay is responsible. This does not necessarily mean that he actually co-writes the script, but that he may push the work on it, provide input and have to approve it.
Should the popular Robert Downey Jr. return as Sherlock, the studio should already be fully behind the project. This is supported by the success of the first two parts, the repeated plans for a continuation of the series and the currently even stronger focus at Warner on established brands (new “Lord of the Rings” films have only just been announced), those undoubtedly include the Stories about cult detective Sherlock Holmes.
… but also the desire?
But what does all this mean for the odds on “Sherlock Holmes 3”? On the one hand, that’s hard to say since Robert Downey Jr. made himself quite rare after his MCU farewell appearance in “Avengers: Endgame” (only the flop “Dolittle” and the documentary “Sr.” followed, but he soon after all joined the illustrious cast of Christopher Nolan’s new film “Oppenheimer”) .
Still, we’re cautiously optimistic as Downey Jr. has stated repeatedly in the past that it is willing to make another sequel and he would even be actively involved in the project as a producer to develop a universe based on Marvel models from the “Sherlock Holmes” franchise. There are already roughly two series promised here, which should revolve around characters that will be introduced in “Sherlock Holmes 3”. It is unclear what exactly those characters would be and whether these plans are still being pursued.
Robert Downey Jr. seems to have had enough of the “Sherlock Holmes” series, but not yet. And should “Sherlock Holmes 3” with the ex-“Iron Man” actually materialize, then the conversation quoted above also indicates that Guy Ritchie (and not Dexter Fletcher) would then return to the director’s chair.