Within the early years of Robert Downey Jr.’s tenure as Iron Man within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the actor was additionally bringing one other fictional character from the printed web page to life: Sherlock Holmes. Downey’s debuted because the Arthur Conan Doyle-created detective in 2009, and Sherlock Holmes: A Recreation of Shadows adopted in 2011. Then there’s Sherlock Holmes 3, which has remained caught in growth hell for nicely over a decade, with no signal currently of it making any progress ahead. Now Man Ritchie, who directed Downey’s first two Sherlock Holmes motion pictures, has shared why he’s not as “concerned” with the threequel at the moment.
Man Ritchie has been making the rounds selling his new film Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, which stars Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza and Josh Hartnett, however whereas talking with Collider, Sherlock Holmes 3 got here up as a subject. When the filmmaker was requested if Sherlock Holmes 3 nonetheless has an opportunity of occurring or if “that point has come and gone,” he responded:
Nicely, truthfully, I left this as much as Robert [Downey Jr.]. So Robert wished to be in command of this. The ball’s in his court docket, so he is in command of the script, he is in command of the entire thing. I’ve moonwalked out of that till there is a time for me to become involved.
It’s essential to say that as of proper now, Man Ritchie isn’t connected to Sherlock Holmes 3 as its director. In 2019, it was introduced that Rocketman’s Dexter Fletcher would choose up the helming reins on the threequel, however in June 2022, Fletcher stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had “derailed” Sherlock Holmes 3, although he nonetheless felt the film must be made. There’s been no official announcement of Fletcher stepping away from Sherlock Holmes 3, so presumably he’s nonetheless on board to direct and Ritchie is able to assist out in another means, doubtless as an government producer.
Both means, as Man Ritchie defined, the ball is in Robert Downey Jr.’s court docket over whether or not Sherlock Holmes 3 will sometime be made or not. So far as his schedule goes, Downey has been busy with different tasks currently, together with being a part of the large solid for Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, in addition to each starring in and government producing the upcoming HBO collection The Sympathizer. So it’s exhausting to say if Sherlock Holmes 3 continues to be an essential merchandise on his to-do listing today.
It’s additionally doable that the way forward for this Sherlock Holmes world doesn’t relaxation with one other film, however within the TV realm as a substitute. In April 2022, it was reported that Robert Downey Jr. and his spouse Susan Downey have been among the many government producers growing two Sherlock Holmes spinoff reveals that might display completely for HBO Max subscribers. Nonetheless, even when one or both of those reveals have been to maneuver ahead, they each concentrate on new characters who’re imagined to be launched in Sherlock Holmes 3, so it’s unclear if Downey would reprise Sherlock within the reveals or if he’s solely concerned with them behind the scenes.
If/when the day comes when an official determination on what to do with Sherlock Holmes 3 is introduced, we’ll make sure you go it alongside. Till then, the 2023 new film releases lineup is obtainable to look over so you’ll be able to determine what you’ll watch in theaters or stream later this 12 months.
