Over a decade since the Guy Ritchie duologyโs second instalment hit cinemas, HBO Max and Warner Bros have now set their sights on expanding the Sherlock Holmes universe with two spin-off properties. And before you ask: yes. Leading man Robert Downey Jr is involved. Just not in the capacity you were expecting.
Variety indicates the shows will be set in the very same canon established in Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011), inspired by the classic works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but the focus wonโt be upon RDJโs titular detective. Nor will it be Jude Lawโs faithful Dr John Watson. Sources reveal weโll be following the adventures of a new character to be introduced in Sherlock Holmes 3. Oh yeahโฆ apparently weโre also receiving another movie.
โOriginally slated for a December 2020 release that was then pushed to December 2021, the third film has been delayed by the pandemic and currently has no new release date,โ writes Nellie Andreeva and Peter White of Deadline.
RELATED: HBO Confirms Winter Premiere Date For โGame Of Thronesโ Prequel โHouse Of The Dragonโ
โThe future of the potential series hinges on the fate of that potential third movie instalment.โ
โWhile trying to navigate Downey Jrโs schedule, both the actor and the third movieโs director Dexter Fletcher (Rocketman) โ who succeeded the first two filmโs helmer Guy Ritchie โ have publicly expressed their commitment to making it.โ
Robert Downey Jr and his wife/producing partner Susan Downey first discussed creating Sherlock Holmes spin-offs long before HBO Max entered the conversation back in 2020. The duo, who have previously produced the likes of HBOโs brilliantly executed Perry Mason and Netflixโs Sweet Tooth, will now executive produce alongside Amanda Burrell of Team Downey, Lionel Wigram of Wigram Productions, and Warner Bros Television.
At the current stage, however, representatives from HBO Max and Warner Bros Television have declined to comment. Itโs also unclear whether Robert Downy Jr himself will reprise his role as the eccentric sleuth-for-hire.
Stay tuned.
