‘Young Sherlock Holmes’ Isn’t the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ Sequel Anyone Wanted

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Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes films starring Robert Downey Jr. are fan favorites, so many are disappointed to learn his next project is a Young Sherlock story. While a younger version of the detective could be popular, numerous fans are hoping he’ll eventually return to the adventures everyone expects and wants to see with the original character.

With Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories now freely available for anyone to use, we’re seeing a surge in new adaptations and stories featuring the famous characters. When Guy Ritchie and Robert Downey Jr. first made a Sherlock Holmes movie in 2009, much of the original material was still protected by copyright. Since then, and with the release of a sequel in 2011, filmmakers have had much more creative freedom. This means Ritchie’s new Sherlock Holmes project could be less restricted than ever before, but its development is proving surprisingly difficult.

Guy Ritchie’s ‘Young Sherlock Holmes‘ Series Should Be a Sequel to the Robert Downey Jr. Movies


Warner Bros.

The 2009 and 2011 Sherlock Holmes films were quickly and carefully produced, suggesting Warner Bros. was on the verge of launching a major franchise. Both movies were financially successful, starred popular actors, and were well-liked by viewers. Despite much talk and a fourteen-year wait, a third film to complete a trilogy never materialized.

Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes Movies
Movie Year Tomatometer Popcornmeter Budget Box Office
Sherlock Holmes 2009 70% 77% $90 million $524,028,679
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows 2011 60% 77% $125 million $543,848,418

Even though the director of the previous Sherlock Holmes films is returning, a new prequel series without Robert Downey Jr. doesn’t seem as exciting. Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Sherlock Holmes is still considered one of the best, particularly in recent years. While a story about Holmes’s early days could be interesting, it feels like a missed opportunity when the obvious choice – reuniting Downey Jr. and Jude Law – is available. Plus, the 1985 film Young Sherlock Holmes already explored the character’s youth, making this new approach less innovative.

‘Young Sherlock Holmes’ Might Not Even Be Canon to the Robert Downey Jr. Movies


Warner Bros.

Even if Robert Downey Jr. isn’t returning as Sherlock Holmes, it would have been great if the new series expanded on the world created in the 2009 and 2011 movies. However, that doesn’t appear to be happening. The show, coming to Prime Video in 2026, is described as having the same cleverness and appeal as Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes films, but it isn’t being presented as a direct prequel.

In an interview with Deadline when the show was first announced, director Guy Ritchie mentioned that Hero Fiennes Tiffin will portray a fresh take on the detective, suggesting a different Sherlock Holmes than the one Robert Downey Jr. played. While this new version would logically take place earlier in the timeline, it’s still possible Ritchie’s show could exist within the same universe as his movies, even if it’s never officially confirmed. The biggest hurdle is that the show is on Amazon, while the films are owned by Warner Bros., but dedicated fans might be able to connect the dots anyway.

Why ‘Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows’ Still Doesn’t Have a Sequel


Warner Bros.

Robert Downey Jr. was still actively playing Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe when he first took on the role of Sherlock Holmes. He balanced both roles for a time, appearing as Sherlock Holmes up through the film A Game of Shadows. After that, the MCU grew significantly, and Robert Downey Jr.’s schedule became overwhelmingly filled with commitments to reprise his role as Iron Man. While other factors may have played a part, this likely explains why he hasn’t been able to make another Sherlock Holmes movie.

After Iron Man’s death in the 2019 film Avengers: Endgame, many fans hoped Robert Downey Jr. would next play Sherlock Holmes. That didn’t pan out, as he’s now back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, set to play Dr. Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027). Between his Marvel roles, he appeared in the 2020 film Dolittle, the 2023 hit Oppenheimer, and a 2024 miniseries called The Sympathizer. Basically, he’s been incredibly busy!

With Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law both unavailable, Sherlock Holmes 3 is currently on hold, meaning it’s unlikely to be made anytime soon. It’s been a while since the last Sherlock Holmes film, so the script for the third movie needs to be perfect to satisfy fans. The upcoming prequel might be a way for the director to practice and ensure the next main installment is really good when it finally happens.

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2025-12-11 02:49