There have been more films aboutSherlock Holmesthan almost any other character in the history of cinema. Similar to iconic screen heroes like Robin Hood, King Arthur, Tarzan, Zorro, and the Three Musketeers, Sherlock Holmes belongs in the public domain, meaning that any filmmaker or studio can make a film aboutSir Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved detective. Holmes has appeared in many great films, including classics likeBilly Wilder’sThe Private Life of Sherlock HolmesandBill Condon’s underrated recent projectMr. Holmes. However, the series offilms byGuy Ritchiethat starred Iron Manhimself,Robert Downey Jr.,as the beloved private eye became some of the biggest blockbusters ever made about the character. Despite the success of the first two films in the series, a third installment seems to be just as elusive as one of Holmes’ cases.
Sherlock Holmes
Detective Sherlock Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England.
The ‘Sherlock Holmes’ Films Were Big Successes
What’s easy to forget is that in the early 21st century,Robert Downey Jr. was not the same starthat he is today. While roles in critically acclaimedfilms likeKiss Kiss Bang BangandZodiacearned him more praise than he had received in years, Downey was not considered to be a box office commodity by any stretch of the imagination. This all changed in 2008 thanks to the combined power ofJon Favreau’s firstIron Manfilm andBen Stiller’s show businessdark comedyTropic Thunder.Iron Manshowed that Downey could carry a leading role in a franchise that spans much larger than just one character, andTropic Thunderearned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In less than a year, Downey had transformedfrom a risky bet to the biggest actor in Hollywood.
This Creepy Hammer Horror Film Remains One of the Best Sherlock Holmes Adaptations
Oozing signature Hammer gothic, this foggy, atmospheric take on the Conan Doyle tale is right up there with the finest.
By 2009, Robert Downey Jr. gave ushis take on the classic detective Sherlock Holmesin Guy Ritchie’sSherlock Holmes. The film became a surprise box office hit, as it turned the traditionally straightforward premise of a Holmes film into a much more exciting action-adventure epic. Although Ritchie’s clever dialogue and idiosyncratic filming techniques were largely responsible for the film’s success, much ofSherlock Holmesrelied upon the chemistry between Downey andJude Law,who co-starred as Professor John Watson. The two actors have great chemistry in the film and managed to generate interest from a general audience around making a sequel.Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadowssaw Holmes and Watson facing off against Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris), the most wicked of all the Holmes antagonists. Like its predecessor,A Game of Shadowsearned both solid reviewsand a respectable box office total.
What Happened to ‘Sherlock Holmes 3’?
Among the best moments inA Game of Shadowsis a final scene that teases the future of the series. While Watson initially believes that his best friend sacrificed himself to defeat Moriarty, Holmes reveals himself to be alive, hiding in plain sight in Watson’s living room. This confirmed that the two buddies would be free to go on more adventures together should the film ever inspire additional sequels. It appeared that Warner Brothers was just as keen to see the two get back together, asIron Man 3screenwriterDrew Pearcewas hired shortly afterA Game of Shadows’ initial releaseto work on a draft forSherlock Holmes 3. Unfortunately,Downey’s obligations to his role as Tony Starkin the MCU meant that a third adventure for Holmes became a second priority for him.
Law would confirm in 2013that there was an “idea” for a third film, but thatno official screenplay had actually been written. The following year, Downey’s wife Susan (who served as a producer on the project) said, “There’s an idea, there’s an outline, there is not a script yet.”She stated, “When you come back, and you do a third one, there’s gotta be something there that really warrants putting it back on the screen again.” She revealed that after the appearance of Moriarty in the second film,the creative team was looking for another way to elevate the stakes for a third installment.After a series of additional delays, Warner Brothers datedSherlock Holmes 3for a Christmas 2020 release date. While releasing a new installment ten years after its predecessor seemed like a preposterous idea, it would become a date that Warner Brothers would again fail to actually meet.
Production on ‘Sherlock Holmes 3’ Was Pushed Back Further Due to COVID
An announcement that the film would be delayed another year came withsurprising news about its director; Ritchie was replaced as the film’s director byDexter Fletcher, who was hot off the success of the 2019 biopicRocketman. Downey’s schedule was now freed up, asAvengers: Endgamehad markedhis final appearance as Tony Starkin the MCU. While it appeared thatSherlock Holmes 3might start moving forward, the film’s premiere hit another snagdue to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it’s now been over a decade since Downey last played Holmes, his collaboratorAmanda Burrellconfirmed that athird film in the series was still a “priority” for him.
What makes the project particularly fascinating are the plans for the film to not just continue Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law’s stories, butto incorporate other characters as well. It was announced in 2022 thatWarner Brothers would begin developingtwo television series set in theSherlock Holmesuniverse that would be released directly to HBO Max.Although plans were made to create a “Marvel-style universe” at that time,no word has since been made on these shows’ status.
One of the most exciting things about the end of Downey’s tenure as Tony Stark is getting to see him take on projects outside the MCU; it’s easy to forget that Downey is one of cinema’s greatest actors, andOppenheimercertainly proved that he still had it in him to give a truly original performance. Perhaps the goodwill that Downey has amassed afterhis Oscar-winning work inOppenheimerwill inspire him to finally return to one of his best characters in the movies.
Sherlock Holmesis available to stream on Apple TV+ in the U.S.
