Is Sherlock Holmes 3 Ever Going to Happen?
It has been more than a decade since Guy Ritchie directed Robert Downey Jr. in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, but there’s still no sign of the third picture in the franchise. The 2011 offering followed shortly after 2009’s Sherlock Holmes and capitalized on its hype. However, the threequel has been in development hell for years and there’s still no sign that it will be made.
From Casino to Television – Sherlock Holmes is Massive
With Sherlock Holmes being one of the most famous characters in mainstream culture, it would make a lot of sense to release a third offering in the Downey Jr.-led series. The character is ubiquitous in entertainment and can be found in some of the most booming markets. For example, Sherlock Holmes & The Box of Mysteries is one of the top new slots at Betfair Casino. The thumbnail perfectly captures the mystery and intrigue of the novels, and the spinning reels take players on a classic Baker Street adventure. The fact that developers are still making content about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s character highlights how popular he is.
Along with casino games, there have been countless television series based on Sherlock Holmes. One of the most popular titles in recent times was Sherlock, which was developed by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat. Benedict Cumberbatch starred as the legendary detective, and his incredible turn helped boost his career massively.
New Film in Development Hell
According to a report from Digital Spy, Downey Jr. is desperate to take up his role as Sherlock once again as the 58-year-old is keen to star in more blockbusters. However, the third Sherlock picture is reportedly stuck in development hell.
Ritchie was initially on board to direct it after making the first two, but the Snatch director pulled out. Dexter Fletcher, who starred in Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is assigned to direct the offering instead. Fletcher has made some high-profile movies including Rocketman, but Sherlock 3 could help to put him on the map as a director.
Along with Chris Brancato writing the script, Screen Rant reported that Jude Law has also said that he would be happy to reprise his role as Dr. Watson. It’s simply a case of a production studio giving the picture the green light, which only seems like a matter of time.
Series In Development on HBO Max
Further evidence to suggest that Sherlock Holmes 3 will happen is the fact that HBO Max has commissioned two television series that will be set within the same cinematic universe. The streaming service is seeking to expand with various franchises that span film as well.
Even though it has been more than 12 years since the last Sherlock Holmes offering, it seems likely that the third installment will happen sooner or later. The great detective is hugely popular in the mainstream and a new picture would likely be a box office smash. Hopefully the wait for this new title won’t be too long.