MOVIE NEWS – Jude Law has shared a promising yet minor update on the status of Sherlock Holmes 3. The first film, released in 2009, became a box office smash, grossing $524 million worldwide and revamping the iconic character for modern audiences.

The sequel, 2011’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, was produced quickly but failed to live up to its predecessor’s critical acclaim despite earning $543 million globally. Plans for a third installment have been circulating for over a decade.

Jude Law, who portrayed Dr. John Watson in the series, provided a small update during an interview with The Playlist. He revealed that a new draft of the script has been completed, though he has yet to read it. Interestingly, he also mentioned that an earlier version of the story included time travel, drawing comparisons to the short-lived animated series Sherlock Holmes in the 23rd Century. Regarding this time travel element, Law remarked:
“Gosh, yeah, that’s interesting. The plan has been evolving over how many years it’s been now, probably nearly ten years.” He further elaborated:
“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. One of the best things I took from the first two films is my friendship with Robert [Downey Jr.] and his wife Susan. They mean a 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 read yet. But then there’s the question of, ‘How expensive is it? And can we get it made?’ [Laughs] Honestly, working with Robert is an extraordinary experience, and I truly miss it.”

Development for Sherlock Holmes 3 began in 2011, even before A Game of Shadows hit theaters. Several writers, including Drew Pearce (Iron Man 3), Justin Haythe (A Cure for Wellness), and Chris Brancato (Narcos), have contributed to the script over the years. Warner Bros. initially scheduled the release for December 25, 2020, before pushing it to December 22, 2021. Dexter Fletcher (Rocketman) was tapped to direct, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused indefinite delays.

Sherlock Holmes in Development Limbo

Despite the massive popularity of the 2009 Sherlock Holmes film, numerous factors have delayed the third installment. Robert Downey Jr.’s packed schedule, primarily with the MCU, was a significant hurdle. By the time he was free, COVID-19 had stalled production.

Now that Downey Jr. is back in the MCU as Doctor Doom, it raises the question of whether he can find time for Sherlock Holmes 3. Additionally, with the flood of Holmes adaptations over the years, including Sherlock and Elementary, one wonders if there’s still a demand for this franchise. Will nostalgia drive audiences back, or has too much time passed since the 2009 hit?

Source: MovieWeb