At a screening of Play Dirty hosted by Steve Weintraub, director Shane Black, producer Jules Daly, and executive producer Susan Downey took part in a post-film chat. Naturally, the talk turned to one of Downey’s long-running projects: Sherlock Holmes 3.
It’s been more than 10 years since A Game of Shadows came out, and fans have been waiting for Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law to return as Holmes and Watson.
God, that is loaded. How much do I give? We came pretty close at one point, and I think I am grateful that we didn’t make that version of it. I won’t go into what that was, which isn’t meant to sound cryptic. It just didn’t work out timing-wise, because we couldn’t get it in before Jude [Law] was going to be unavailable. I think it was a good thing that we all stepped back. And then there was a big old pandemic and all that kind of stuff. I would love to bring a third Sherlock to the world. I really would. And we’ve been playing with it for a long time.
When asked how close the project came to happening, Downey gave an honest answer
The biggest surprise from Downey was the news that the sequel may take place in America, far from 221B Baker Street.
We’ve been talking about a slightly different direction. It’s always been kind of set in America, and whether that’s a good idea or not, I’m not sure, but I love it. I love that idea. So, I would just love to do it. It’s just hard. It’s been a while, the bar is really high, or at least Robert [Downey Jr.] has set the bar really high, so I don’t know.
said Downey
The series began with 2009’s Sherlock Holmes, directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Downey Jr. and Law alongside Rachel McAdams and Eddie Marsan. The movie was a huge success, making $524 million worldwide on a $90 million budget, and it got good reviews — 70% from critics and 77% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
Ritchie came back for the 2011 sequel Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, which introduced Jared Harris as Professor Moriarty and firmly established Downey and Law as one of the most popular Holmes/Watson duos in recent film history.
Downey’s words show that the series isn’t dead yet — and may even go in a “slightly different direction,” possibly set in America. While the pandemic and scheduling issues stopped earlier efforts, Downey’s excitement (and her husband and producing partner’s interest in returning) makes it clear the game might not be over.
For now, fans can watch Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows on Netflix in the U.S.