Sherlock Holmes 3 is still "a priority" for Robert Downey Jr, according to producer Susan Downey, so it sounds like the threequel is getting made after all. When? Well, that's the issue.
"Here's what I can tell you. Prior to this, we had lunch together with Robert... It was a very specific topic of conversation, so yes. It is in the hopper,", Downey revealed in an UnWrapped podcast during May 2023.
"We're gonna do it when it's right with the right people, but it is a priority for the company and a priority for Robert," she added.
In June 2022, Dexter Fletcher, who took over as director from Guy Ritchie in July 2019, said he thought the threequel movie "will get made", but that was it.
"I don't know what the timeline of that is, unfortunately, but I believe it should be. 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," he added.
The only other update there has been is a tiny morsel that Guy Ritchie dropped in February 2023, during an interview with Collider.
Ritchie — who would presumably be a producer on the third movie since the director's chair is already filled — was asked whether the movie will ever get made. He responded: "Well, honestly, I left this up to Robert. So Robert 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."
While we wait for Robert, if you want more Sherlock Holmes in your life, there are potentially two spin-off TV shows set in the same universe to be produced by HBO's Max streaming service and Warner Bros – although we haven't heard anything about them since April 2022.
There's also a totally disconnected TV show called Watson that won't feature Sherlock at all, as it's set one year after Sherlock's death at the hands of Moriarty. That was announced in February 2023, so we'll wait and see about that.
But for now, let's focus on the movie series. Here's everything you need to know about Sherlock Holmes 3.
Sherlock Holmes 3 potential release date: When will Sherlock Holmes 3 be out in cinemas?
As of June 2023, Sherlock Holmes 3 doesn't have a confirmed release date.
Originally, the threequel was set for release on December 25, 2020, before it was pushed back an entire year to December 22, 2021, and then, finally, taken off the release calendar entirely.
As mentioned above, we could also be seeing TV show spin-offs — but it seems that if they were to happen, they would be released after the third movie.
Sherlock Holmes [4K UHD / Blu-ray] [2009] [Region Free]
![Sherlock Holmes [4K UHD / Blu-ray] [2009] [Region Free]](https://hips.hearstapps.com/vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1627986426-51b4odCXibL._SL500_.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:* "Sherlock Holmes [4K UHD / Blu-ray] [2009] [Region Free]")
Sherlock Holmes [4K UHD / Blu-ray] [2009] [Region Free]
With so little known about the third movie, it's tricky to even speculate about when we can expect it. It seems they were always aiming for a December release, but now even December 2023 seems too soon.
Sherlock Holmes 3 cast: Who is returning for Sherlock Holmes 3?
Presuming we even get a third movie, Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law have both been confirmed to return as Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson because, obviously, since it wouldn't be the same without their bromance.
No word yet on whether Kelly Reilly (Watson's wife Mary), Stephen Fry (Sherlock's brother Mycroft) or Eddie Marsan (Inspector Lestrade) will return, but we'd be surprised if they didn't at least make a cameo appearance.
Professor James Moriarty, played brilliantly by Jared Harris, was seemingly killed off at the end of A Game of Shadows, but we wouldn't bet against a return.
Sherlock Holmes 3 plot: What will Sherlock Holmes 3 be about?
"We want it to be the best of the series, so that's a pretty tall order," Downey said way back in October 2014 of the third movie. So who out of Sherlock's back catalogue of villains will the master detective be up against this time?
The first outing saw Holmes and Watson battling mystical would-be world dominator Lord Henry Blackwood (Mark Strong), while the second film brought us Sherlock's arch-nemesis Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris).
As mentioned above, Harris would seem like a long shot to return. However, Holmes himself was supposed to have died in that same incident, only for the detective to fake his death and secretly turn up in Watson's office.
Our money would be on a return for Moriarty, with Harris hopefully reprising the role. Holmes without Moriarty is like Batman without the Joker — the two need each other to be truly amazing.
Harris doesn't seem that confident on a return though, telling Digital Spy in March 2018 that the last script he saw didn't have Moriarty in it. Whether this will have changed by the time we finally get to filming remains to be seen.
One thing we do know for sure though is that it's set quite some time after A Game of Shadows – which makes sense, given how much time has passed in real life.
"We hope to propel the story forward. As always, the essence of the story is their codependency," Law teased.
"We're going to examine – since it's been several years since we've seen them – we're going to play up the fact that they haven't seen each other for a long time either."
Since we know spin-offs are planned, the third movie could well introduce characters and storylines to pick up in those shows, much like the MCU sets up its numerous TV shows and movies.
It's something that producer Susan Downey has been speaking about since October 2020. "We do think there's opportunity to build it out more, to spin off some characters from the third movie," she explained.
"We definitely have kind of grand schemes and plans and all that, but it takes a lot. It takes a lot of coordination because again, Marvel wasn't built in a day."
Sherlock Holmes 3 trailer: Any Sherlock Holmes 3 footage yet?
We'll have to wait until the movie is actually filming to have any idea when we can see new footage, but it's probably safe to say we can't expect anything anytime soon.
For now, you'll have to rewatch the previous two movies (or any of the plethora of Sherlock Holmes adaptations out there).
Sherlock Holmes 3 does not currently have a release date.
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Movies Editor, Digital Spy Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor. Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world. After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.
Freelance film & TV writer, Digital Spy
Critic and writer Jo Berry has been writing about TV and movies since she began her career at Time Out aged 18. A regular on BBC Radio, Jo has written for titles including Empire, Maxim, Radio Times, OK!, The Guardian and Grazia, is the author of books including Chick Flicks and The Parents’ Guide to Kids’ Movies.
She is also the editor of website Movies4Kids. In her career, Jo has interviewed well-known names including Beyonce, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Kiefer Sutherland, Tom Cruise and all the Avengers, spent many an hour crushed in the press areas of award show red carpets. Jo is also a self-proclaimed expert on Outlander and Brassic, and completely agrees that Die Hard is a Christmas movie.
