Sherlock Holmes is one of the most consistently popular heroes in all of fiction. Even before the original stories became freely available for anyone to use, there were countless adaptations. Now that a new series, Young Sherlock, has arrived on Prime Video, the lack of a third film from director Guy Ritchie’s take on the Holmes universe is especially noticeable.
The Young Sherlock series has a direct connection to how Guy Ritchie’s first Sherlock Holmes film came about. Lionel Wigram initially proposed the film based on a comic book he’d written, focusing on a unique skill of Sherlock Holmes that he thought hadn’t been explored enough. Warner Bros. approved the project in 2007, but Ritchie didn’t join until a few months before filming started in 2008. A meeting with Robert Downey Jr. shortly after the huge success of Iron Man led Ritchie to move away from Wigram’s idea of a younger Holmes. This film is culturally significant, not just within the Sherlock Holmes story, but because it played a key role in transforming Robert Downey Jr. from a struggling actor into a major movie star.
The Debut of ‘Young Sherlock’ Is a Victory Lap for Guy Ritchie’s Take on Holmes
Before Guy Ritchie’s 2009 Sherlock Holmes film was released, the online reaction was extremely negative, even for the internet. One article, from AV Club, famously called it a chance for Ritchie to ruin the Sherlock Holmes legacy. That article is all that remains of the original piece, as online movie forums quickly filled with pages of criticism aimed at both the director and Robert Downey Jr. However, more than 15 years later, the film is now considered one of the best modern adaptations of the iconic character.
I remember when the first Sherlock Holmes movie came out, some people weren’t thrilled with how different it was. But Guy Ritchie explained that the story meant a lot to him personally. He actually went to a boarding school where they’d read the Conan Doyle stories as a bedtime story over the loudspeakers! He once told CBS News, while promoting RocknRolla, that Sherlock Holmes literally lulled him to sleep every night when he was a little boy. This new series feels special because it lets him explore that original idea – a younger, more fallible Holmes just starting out – that clearly stayed with him all these years.
I’m really excited about this show! It’s based on a series of books by Andy Lane, not Wigram’s comic, and what’s cool is that the Conan Doyle estate actually approved these stories before most of the original Holmes tales became freely available. The author really wanted to stay true to Conan Doyle’s vision, and that’s why you won’t see Watson right away – the books start before he and Holmes even met in A Study in Scarlet. There are eight books in the series, so there’s plenty of material for future seasons if it gets renewed. And honestly, there was a lot of buzz about potential renewal for Prime Video even before the show even came out!
Ritchie’s First Two Sherlock Holmes Films Felt Like the Start of Something Bigger
The director’s love for Sherlock Holmes heavily influenced the films. Many versions portray Holmes as overly refined and academic, but as the director pointed out during interviews for the first movie, the original stories by Conan Doyle showed a much more layered and intricate character.
Holmes and Watson frequently got into physical fights, and Holmes was shown to be a skilled fighter. The films also depicted Holmes struggling with destructive habits, notably cocaine and opium use. Despite these darker elements, director Ritchie created a memorable and now-classic portrayal of Holmes and his brilliant detective work. One example is a fight scene where Holmes figures out how to win by observing his opponent, and the film then shows that plan unfolding in action – and it’s effective.
The first Sherlock Holmes movie hinted at supernatural elements, and the sequel introduced Jared Harris as Holmes’s rival, James Moriarty. A Game of Shadows featured a complex, worldwide conflict and a somewhat complicated defeat for Moriarty. The film concludes with the apparent death of Sherlock Holmes at Reichenbach Falls, but this is quickly called into question. Importantly, the ending didn’t suggest the story would only have two parts, and Warner Bros. confirmed a third film was in development even before the second one came out.
Despite continued script revisions by multiple writers, Robert Downey Jr. and Guy Ritchie both had very busy schedules. Warner Bros. originally planned for the third film to release on Christmas Day 2020, but that was delayed to December 22, 2021, along with the announcement that Ritchie would no longer direct, and Dexter Fletcher would take over. The pandemic then caused further setbacks, leaving the movie stuck in a cycle of planning and delays – it had moved past being a project that might never happen, but wasn’t actively being filmed.
Ritchie’s ‘Holmes Cinematic Universe’ Isn’t Dead, but May Be Competing With Itself
Despite some potential confusion for fans, the Young Sherlock series isn’t related to Guy Ritchie’s other Sherlock Holmes films. Reports from 2022 confirmed this, indicating the series will focus on characters different from the famous detective. A key example is the appearance of a young Moriarty, as Holmes hadn’t even met his nemesis in A Game of Shadows. Although the series will likely share a similar style with Ritchie’s films, the two are completely separate stories.
The difference in style between the Sherlock Holmes TV show and the movies is understandable, considering they had different creative teams and studios. This makes the lack of a third Sherlock Holmes film even more noticeable. Both the TV series and the movies, which came out over a decade ago, are currently available on Prime Video, and are being highlighted with the release of Young Sherlock. The continued popularity of both proves audiences still enjoy Guy Ritchie’s take on Sherlock Holmes, and Robert Downey Jr. as the detective. However, despite this success—or maybe because of it—the third film, which clearly hinted at a continuation after A Game of Shadows, never happened. Young Sherlock might offer Ritchie a sense of completion regarding that unfulfilled project, but it could leave fans feeling frustrated.
Despite reports of its cancellation, Sherlock Holmes 3 isn’t likely to stay shelved. Susan Downey recently mentioned she and her husband still want to make the movie, hinting it could be set in the United States. This is interesting considering the CW show Sherlock & Daughter featured Holmes living in America and wanting to return to London. If Robert Downey Jr. can both return as Holmes and produce two spin-off shows for HBO Max, the creative teams behind the 2009 Sherlock Holmes films and these new shows would be rivals. The constant delays might actually work in director Guy Ritchie’s favor, potentially allowing him to return to Sherlock Holmes 3 if the project ever moves forward with filming.
You can now watch the entire first season of Young Sherlock on Prime Video, along with the films Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.
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2026-03-11 00:10