In a new interview, Chris Brancato, listed as a screenwriter for the long-delayed sequel on IMDb, revealed he has finished writing a draft script for the film. And apparently, it’s “very good,” according to his Westies co-creator Michael Panes. Because, of course, the most important aspect of any movie is the approval of someone who isn’t even directly involved in the project.
Brancato’s cautious tone is understandable, given the history of this film. When asked if the movie is truly ever “going to happen,” he admitted he doesn’t know for sure. “That’s up to the movie gods. Also, Robert’s schedule. Robert has a very, very busy schedule, so I’m hopeful that it will get made. But you know, we have to wait and see how things shake out. You just never know with movies,” he shared. Translation: Robert Downey Jr. is busy, and we’re all just pawns in the game of Hollywood scheduling.
Downey Jr., who plays the iconic British detective in the mystery series created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the late 1800s, has been incredibly busy in recent years, particularly with his role as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe throughout the 2010s. And now, he has a new role in the MCU — he plays Dr. Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday — which means his shooting schedule is likely to get even more complicated. Because what’s a few more franchises to juggle, right?
The Long and Winding Road to Sherlock Holmes 3
The third entry was first announced by Warner Bros. in the spring of 2018, with a planned Christmas 2020 release. Of course, that never happened. In 2019, the studio announced the film would be pushed back to December 2021, but that also never came to pass. Then, in 2024, director Dexter Fletcher shared that the COVID-19 pandemic had tossed a monkey wrench into the film’s development. Because who needs a coherent production schedule, anyway?
A more recent, though vague, update came from Downey Jr. himself in May 2026. Speaking to the Associated Press on the red carpet, the Marvel icon admitted he didn’t know if or when Sherlock Holmes 3 would move forward, admitting it would be up to his wife, producer Susan Downey. “I don’t know. People are talking about it. She’s the producer and will have the last word,” he shared, to which his wife quipped, “It’s the greatest mystery.” Ah, the eternal mystery of Hollywood’s priorities.
It’s been a long and winding road to get Sherlock Holmes 3 to the big screen, and it’s anyone’s guess when (or if) it will actually happen. But hey, at least we have the Nostalgia Harvest to look forward to every year, where Hollywood digs up old franchises and tries to make them relevant again. Because that’s what the people want, right? More of the same old thing, rehashed and repackaged for a new generation.
The State of Hollywood: Where Familiarity is Key
It’s no secret that Hollywood has a fascination with familiar properties. The Content Mines remain fully operational, churning out remake after remake, sequel after sequel. And why not? It’s easier to bet on a known quantity than to take a chance on something new and original. Somewhere, a Focus Group earned another bonus for declaring that the latest rehashing of a classic franchise is “what the people want.” Because, of course, the people are always clamoring for more of the same old thing.
Executives reportedly nodded very seriously during an expensive meeting, discussing the merits of reviving yet another beloved franchise. Marketing departments have once again declared history to be “made” with the latest trailer, which is apparently “the most anticipated event of the decade.” And another beloved franchise has successfully avoided the sweet release of death, thanks to the efforts of the Franchise Resurrection Department, one of Hollywood’s busiest offices.
In the end, it’s all just a numbers game. Investors reportedly became emotional after hearing the phrase “shared cinematic universe.” Somewhere, a whiteboard now contains the words “bigger,” “darker,” and “multiverse.” And the Merchandising Department reportedly approved the decision before the writers did, because what’s a movie without a few dozen tie-in products, right? It’s all just another day in the never-ending cycle of Hollywood’s nostalgia machine. Sigh.
Finn McFrame, celebrated satirical mastermind and self-proclaimed “Emperor of Irony,” started his illustrious career as a cinematographer, where his expertise in capturing every single frame of a squirrel stealing a baguette earned him accolades at obscure film festivals.
Born in the glamorous town of Boring, Oregon, Finn grew up with dreams of being a Hollywood director until he realized that satire, not cinema, was his true calling—or at least the one that let him sleep until noon.
Finn McFrame: changing the world, one satirical lens flare at a time.
