Like all great things coming to fruition, it is patience that is the key. But Hollywood rarely waits around for decades when a film or a franchise shows immense potential for success. Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes duology is one such instance of how even the best box office successes, both critical and commercial, can still fall off the radar when it comes to expansion.
Granted some projects are better left alone, solely because of how great the original narrative is, but Arthur Conan Doyle’s mythology is an endlessly reincarnated adaptation in the era of modern film and television and Guy Ritchie’s version simply happens to be one of the best ones out there. A third film to top off the masterpiece that was A Game of Shadows wouldn’t hurt at all.
RDJ and Henry Cavill to Unite For Sherlock Holmes 3?
Once a Holmes, always a Holmes. And that logic doesn’t just go for the greatest of the Holmes adaptations. With so many versions co-existing in current filmography, 51 in total, including Robert Downey Jr., Benedict Cumberbatch, Sir Ian McKellen, Henry Cavill, and Jonny Lee Miller, it’s no wonder that the subject has become a saturated and unoriginal one even though directors and storytellers have always found a unique way to put their own spin on the narrative of the legendary sleuth and his companion, Dr. Watson.
Also read: Robert Downey Jr. Talks Planning A Sherlock Holmes Universe
But this time, rumors are that two unique Sherlock Holmes actors are set to unite onscreen for the latest edition of the infamous Robert Downey Jr. adaptations. As per reports by Giant Freaking Robot, Henry Cavill who plays Sherlock Holmes in Netflix’s Enola Holmes duology is expected to be joining the cast of the highly anticipated Sherlock Holmes 3. And given the fact that RDJ is already headlining the project as its titular hero, Cavill may be added in the capacity of a formidable villain.
Although it is highly unlikely that the two stars will clash over the titular role, the rumors of the pair uniting onscreen in a Sherlock Holmes project do make for some great multiversal theories among the fandom. Moreover, the primary roles, including Moriarty and Lestrade are already occupied in the Guy Ritchie adaptations which only leaves room open for Cavill to join the star-studded roster as a villain (perhaps, Charles Augustus Magnussen, if we’re lucky). And we already know he makes for a spectacular one if Mission: Impossible – Fallout is any evidence at all.
What We Know About Robert Downey Jr.’s Sherlock Holmes 3
The existing two films in the greatly beloved adaptations, Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) starring Robert Downey Jr. as the sleuth and Jude Law as Watson were both helmed by Guy Ritchie. The fast-paced narration paired with aesthetic cinematography depicting old London – something that has always been a pet favorite found in Ritchie’s filmography – has been lacking a sequel marking Holmes’ return after the fateful events of the Reichenbach Fall.
Now that the talk surrounding Sherlock Holmes 3 has increased dramatically in the recent past, a few details surrounding the threequel have come to the public’s attention. Primarily, the film will not be directed by Guy Ritchie, who will still remain involved as a producer. Instead, Dexter Fletcher, the maestro of musical biopics, will pick up the project that is currently in development. Originally scheduled to premiere in 2020, the delays due to the pandemic have now halted the threequel indefinitely although a release date can be expected by end of 2023.
Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows are available for streaming on HBO Max.
Source: Giant Freaking Robot
