Robert Downey Jr.’s Sherlock Holmes 3 Clears 1 Big Hurdle, but Another Remains

Sherlock Holmes 3 has received a major update 15 years after the second movie, but one big issue still exists. Featuring Robert Downey Jr. as the eponymous iconic detective, the first Sherlock Holmes movie premiered in 2009. It also features Jude Law as Dr. John Watson. The sequel, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, came out two years later, in 2011. Warner Bros. Pictures announced a third movie, but it has been caught in a development limbo since then.

Chris Brancato shares a promising Sherlock Holmes 3 update

During a recent interview, screenwriter Chris Brancato spoke to The Direct about Sherlock Holmes 3. He was promoting his upcoming MGM+ series, The Westies. Reports about his involvement in the project first surfaced in 2018. At the time, Warner Bros. announced that the threequel would release on December 25, 2020, which obviously didn’t happen. The studio later pushed the release to December 22, 2021, but the movie still failed to make it to theaters.

However, Brancato revealed to the outlet that he has written a complete draft for Sherlock Holmes 3. Michael Panes, who co-created The Westies with Brancato, has apparently read it. “And it’s very good,” Panes said.

During the same interview, Brancato also underscored a significant issue that the project now faces. When asked if the movie would ever happen, he responded, “Well, I don’t know, that’s up to the movie gods. Also, Robert’s (Downey Jr.) schedule. Robert has a very, very busy schedule, so I’m hopeful that it will get made. But you know, we have to wait and see how things shake out. You just never know with movies.”

Back in May, Downey Jr. addressed whether the third movie had made any progress. “People are talking about it, but she’s the producer,” he said, referring to his wife and producing partner, Susan Downey. “She will have the last word,” Downey Jr. added. Susan subsequently joked, “It’s the greatest mystery” (via Associated Press).

Guy Ritchie directed the first two movies. However, in 2019, he reportedly exited the third installment, and Dexter Fletcher replaced him. Sherlock Holmes 3 currently doesn’t have a new release date.