With Robert Downey Jr.’s exit from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fans were hoping that they might finally get to see him don the bowler hat, dress frocks, and long overcoat. However, there has been no update so far and his Sherlock Holmes franchise has been lost in the fog of developmental delays.
After Guy Ritchie’s exit from the franchise, and Susan Downey declaring that the movie is a priority, things have just been haphazard so far. Even with a script already ready, here is what happened with the much anticipated and delayed threequel.
What’s Wrong With Robert Downey Jr.’s Sherlock Holmes 3?
Robert Downey Jr. is one of the very few actors whose acclaim and insane popularity have not been limited by his Marvel role. His role as the celebrated fictional British detective, Sherlock Holmes is among the many roles he is famous for.
The first two movies, released in 2009 and 2011, have garnered intense fame and influence among fans of his and the mythos. Despite the movie’s popularity and incredible grossing figures (see The Numbers), the much-teased and anticipated threequel is nowhere near complete.
After the Downeys revealed that there were plans for an MCU-like Sherlock Holmes universe (via IndieWire) and Dexter Fletcher being attached as the new director (via Variety), Fletcher had revealed how the project was on the back burner despite being slated for a December 2021 release (via Celebrity Catch Up Podcast).
But later on in April 2023, Fletcher revealed that the movie was not in development while talking to CinemaBlend,
“Not currently, no. The simple truth was that I worked closely with Robert and Jude, but mainly Robert, for quite a while on it. And we got it to a certain point, and then Covid hit. And that threw everyone to the wiry nds.”
While he also revealed how the script was brilliant and that they even spent 10 days discussing the threequel, the movie was said to be dead.
Is Sherlock Holmes 3 Still In Development?
While Robert Downey Jr. stars as the eclectic detective and mystery solver, Susan Downey serves as one of the producers of the franchise. Right a few days after Dexter Fletcher’s revelation went public, the producer while appearing on the Unwrapped podcast last year in April, revealed that the threequel was still a priority for everyone involved.
“Here’s what I can tell you… we had lunch together with Robert, the three of us. And it was a very specific topic of conversation. So yes, it is in the hopper. We’re going to do it when it’s right, with the right people, but it is a priority for the company and a priority for Robert.”
While she did state it was a priority, Downey remained ambiguous as to when the movie would come about.
“As much as we want to will that into existence, you have to let a couple of things happen before you do the big push, and maybe it gets there on its own.”
As the makers and the actors wait for the big push and for the fog of developmental delays to settle down fans cannot seem to wait anymore after nearly a decade of waiting already (see X).
Sherlock Holmes movies can be streamed on Amazon Prime.
