Robert Downey Jr.’s Sherlock Holmes 3 is now looking even less likely 13 years after the franchise’s previous installment, due to other priorities in upcoming projects. The Oscar winner starred as the famous detective character in both of Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes movies: 2009’s Sherlock Holmes and 2011’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, shortly before joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2012. The two movies were a box office success, leading to speculation of a Sherlock Holmes 3 movie, but there’s been no official confirmation of a third installment as it has been in development hell for 13 years.

There have been many adaptations of Sherlock Holmes based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s work, including BBC’s Sherlock. However, in some ways, Robert Downey Jr.’s Sherlock Holmes movies are better than Benedict Cumberbatch’s show, as the latter introduced a modern adaptation of the character, while Guy Ritchie’s films were more faithful to the source material. Yet, despite box office earnings and positive reviews, Guy Ritchie’s franchise has remained on rocky ground for over a decade. Furthermore, recent updates involving Jude Law, Robert Downey Jr., and Guy Ritchie show that Sherlock Holmes 3 is looking less likely than ever.

Robert Downey Jr. Returning To The MCU As Doctor Doom Makes Sherlock Holmes 3 More Difficult

RDJ’s Previous Commitments To Marvel Contributed To Sherlock Holmes Delays

Years after Tony Stark’s demise in Avengers: Endgame, Marvel released the shocking news that Robert Downey Jr. would be returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom. Robert Downey Jr. played Tony Stark since 2008, and his character quickly became a fan favorite and a prominent part of the superhero franchise. However, Robert Downey Jr.’s role as Marvel’s Tony Stark took precedence over his Sherlock Holmes trilogy due to the demanding schedule. This meant that there was simply no time for Robert Downey Jr. to consider appearing in Sherlock Holmes 3.

In the brief period after Robert Downey Jr. ended his commitment to Marvel, there was hope that the actor would return to finish the Sherlock Holmes trilogy. In fact, producer Susan Downey said that there was still hope for Sherlock Holmes 3, as it was “still very much alive in our hearts” despite a lack of official updates. However, with the news that the actor will be returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom, possibly for the next few years, it appears that Downey Jr. may be too busy to commit to another Sherlock Holmes movie any time soon.

Getting Everyone Back Has Always Been One Of Sherlock Holmes 3’s Biggest Challenges

RDJ & Jude Law’s Schedules And Dwindling Hype Make Sherlock Holmes 3 Less Likely

Interestingly, it is not the story or lack of commitment that is causing the third movie to be delayed, as Jude Law did report there was an encouraging script update for Sherlock Holmes 3, acknowledging “there’s a great will to make it.” The main issue with the movie has always been the busy schedules of the cast and crew as, excluding 2021, Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr. have appeared in at least one movie a year since Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. The two also have a few upcoming projects in the works for the next few years.

Furthermore, Guy Ritchie is no longer attached to the Sherlock Holmes 3 movie, despite the director’s recent (but unrelated) Prime Video show, Young Sherlock Holmes, also focusing on the character. In 2019, Rocketman’s Dexter Fletcher was named as Sherlock Holmes 3’s new director but no further news has been released since. With such a lull in updates, and the busy workload of both Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr., it doesn’t seem like there will be much time to make Sherlock Holmes 3 soon, and as the 13-year hiatus grows, there may not be enough hype to warrant another installment.