Sherlock Holmes 3: Robert Downey Jr. is to investigate again
The sequel could be set in a different country
Fans have been waiting almost 15 years to see Robert Downey Jr. in the role of Sherlock Holmes again. Now there seems to be movement on the long-awaited third part of the series. According to insider Daniel Richtman, work on "Sherlock Holmes 3" has resumed. Downey Jr. is also said to be back on board as the lead actor.
With the first "Sherlock Holmes" film from 2009 and the sequel "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows", which was released two years later, the famous detective was given a makeover thanks to Guy Ritchie. Under his direction, the sharp-witted sleuth from Arthur Conan Doyle's novels was transformed into a blockbuster hero. Instead of classic investigative work, Ritchie's film adaptations relied on plenty of action. Alongside Downey Jr., Jude Law took on the role of the no less famous assistant Dr. John Watson.
There is not yet much confirmed information about the planned third part of the series. New reports about "Sherlock Holmes 3" have been circulating since 2011. Alongside Downey Jr., it can be assumed that Jude Law will also be back on board. Behind the camera, however, there appears to be a significant change. Instead of Guy Ritchie, Dexter Fletcher was recently named as the intended director of the third part. The filmmaker made a name for himself with his Elton John biopic "Rocketman", among other things.
New location in sight
As far as the plot is concerned, it has already been hinted that there could be a change of location. Susan Downey, "Sherlock Holmes" producer and wife of lead actor Robert Downey Jr., hinted to Collider last October that part three could be set in America instead of London. "I would love to bring a third Sherlock to the world", she emphasized and then went into more detail about the setting of the planned sequel:
We've been talking about a slightly different direction. It's always been kind of set in America, and whether that's a good idea or not, I'm not sure, but I love it. I love that idea.
Holmes purists may have had their problems with the previous installments of the action-heavy series, but Guy Ritchie's films proved to be hits at the box office. Both the first and second films grossed over half a billion US dollars worldwide each. It is therefore not surprising that a third part is still being pursued even after all these years.
Sherlock Holmes reinterpreted as a modern hero
Especially as reinterpretations of the Sherlock Holmes story have been in vogue for a while now. The most renowned is probably the British TV series "Sherlock" from 2010. Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman in the role of Dr. John Watson can be seen for 13 episodes. What is special: The series reinvents Arthur Conan Doyle's characters as modern heroes. The stories are no longer set in the late 19th century, but in present-day London.
The American counterpart "Elementary" takes a similar approach. In the seven-season TV series from 2012, the action is set in contemporary New York. While Jonny Lee Miller can be seen as Sherlock Holmes, the famous assistant's gender has changed. In "Elementary", Lucy Liu becomes Dr. Joan Watson.
The current TV series "Watson ", which has been running since 2025, focuses entirely on Holmes' sidekick, in keeping with the title. In this reinterpretation, the detective has apparently died. Dr. John Watson, played by Morris Chestnut, then returns to his medical career and opens a clinic in Pittsburgh.
As the three series show, there are no limits to the imagination when it comes to Sherlock Holmes. In contrast, the films with Robert Downey Jr. seem almost surprisingly conventional, despite all their peculiarities.