Sherlock Holmes 3 is the follow up to 2011's Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and the continuation of the journey of Robert Downey Jr.'s version of the titular character alongside Jude Law's Dr. John Watson. The first two films in the period mystery thriller saga, which were both directed by Guy Ritchie, have a combined $1 billion haul at the global box office against a total production budget of just $215 million, proving that the Sherlock Holmes franchise is a profitable one for Warner Bros.

It’s been over a decade since the second movie in the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes series, and despite Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes 3 being confirmed shortly after A Game of Shadows arrived, the release date for the next RDJ and Jude Law adventure remains elusive. The third film has been stuck in development hell for a few years now, with a slew of writers reportedly working on the movie's story. Despite that, updates have been coming in, and there’s much to discuss around Sherlock Holmes 3.

Most Recent Sherlock Holmes 3 News

Jude Law Offers A Tantalizing Update

Despite the fact that the threequel is seemingly dead in the water after years of inactivity, the latest news is a hopeful update about Sherlock Holmes 3 from Jude Law. The Dr. Watson star spoke candidly about the sequel's development, and announced that a new iteration of the script had been completed. This is surprising news considering the stagnation of the movie for the better part of 15 years, though Law was quick to caution that nothing has moved forward yet.

Law's enthusiasm for the project, he revealed, comes from "my friendship with Robert [Downey Jr.] and his wife Susan, they mean an awful lot to me." Besides that personal connection, there's clearly a desire for more Sherlock Holmes content, with various shows and movies coming to screens in the near future. Along with that massive fandom comes the chance to make oodles of cash, the biggest motivator to get Sherlock Holmes 3 made.

CBS' Watson, The CW's Sherlock & Daughter, and Prime Video's Young Sherlock are just some of the Sherlock Holmes TV projects currently in the works.

Read Law's full comments below:

Gosh, yeah, that’s interesting [there were once plans for a time travel storyline]. The plan has been evolving over how many years it’s been now, probably nearly ten years. There’s a great will to make it. And a great will amongst us all to get it right to do it, to find the time, to find the right team. The one great thing I took from both of those films is my friendship with Robert [Downey Jr.] and his wife Susan, they mean an awful lot to me. The hope is we’re still going to do it. I think there’s a new iteration of the script I haven’t yet read. And then there’s a case of “How expensive is it? And can we get it made?” [Laughs] But honestly, also, there’s a friendship, but also the experience of working with Robert, and he really does bring an extraordinarily brilliant, fun, motivated, and inspirational kind of quality to a film set, and I miss it being a part of that. It was a great experience.

Sherlock Holmes 3 Is Confirmed

The Sequel's Long & Troubled History

Sherlock Holmes 3 was first confirmed in 2011 shortly after the release of A Game of Shadows, but production was incredibly slow until things kickstarted again in 2018 (via Rocketman filmmaker Dexter Fletcher had been recruited to direct Sherlock Holmes 3 but that update hasn't been followed up on in the years since. No official reason was given as to why Ritchie was being replaced.

Netflix's Narcos co-creator Chris Brancato was tapped by Warner Bros. to write the script for Sherlock Holmes 3. When director Dexter Fletcher was attached to the project, a 2021 release window was set. However, this never materialized, thanks most likely to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. No new release date has been announced since, and it’s unclear if momentum on developing the delayed Sherlock Holmes 3 has picked up again since. In November 2024, Jude Law mentioned another script was finished, but no other details are known.

Sherlock Holmes 3 Cast Details

Will Robert Downey Jr. & Jude Law Return?

The cast of Sherlock Holmes 3 hasn’t been officially confirmed, but the stars of the first two movies in the trilogy, Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, are expected to reprise their roles. Robert Downey Jr. should be back as Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes 3 while Law is expected to return as Holmes' sidekick and voice of reason, Dr. John Watson. The rest of the cast is unclear, and it will depend on what direction the story takes. There are certainly other cast who could reprise their roles, but it's uncertain who they would be.

Sherlock Holmes 3 Story

Which Case Will Sherlock Crack Next?

Whatever the story of Sherlock Holmes 3 ends up being, it was clearly opened up by the ending of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. After successfully foiling Professor Moriarty's (Jared Harris) plans to instigate a war in Europe, Holmes seemingly sacrifices himself to take out Moriarty and protect Watson and his new wife, Mary. However, it was revealed that Holmes survived his fall and was none the worse for wear after all. This leaves the door wide open for a third story, and it doesn't necessarily have to follow Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle's writings.

With nothing certain yet, it's assumed that the story for Sherlock Holmes 3 will be a mystery that not only tests the duo's wits, but puts them in mortal danger as well. The likeliest option is an amalgamation of Conan Doyle's works and modern Hollywood imagination to help make the exhausted franchise exciting again.