Whether Sherlock Holmes will finally return for another investigation now completely depends on Susan Downey, according to Robert Downey Jr. himself. The Sherlock Holmes franchise has long remained one of Hollywood’s biggest modern detective sagas, with fans waiting years to watch Robert Downey Jr.’s eccentric master sleuth crack another case since the release of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows in 2011.

Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey recently turned the fate of Sherlock Holmes 3 into a mystery worthy of Baker Street itself during the 2026 Lincoln Center Spring Gala. When asked about another Sherlock Holmes sequel, Robert admitted is being discussed, before jokingly revealing that Susan, who produced both previous Sherlock films, ultimately “has the last word” on whether the detective returns for another cinematic investigation. Playing along with the mystery, Susan Downey simply smirked and called it “the greatest mystery,” leaving fans with yet another cryptic tease surrounding the long-delayed sequel.

“I don’t know, People are talking about it, but she’s the producer,” Robert Downey told the Associated Press at the 2026, nodding at his wife.

Directed by Guy Ritchie, the Sherlock Holmes films starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law became massive global successes after releasing in 2009 and 2011, alongside stars including Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, and Jared Harris. Although Warner Bros. reportedly placed Sherlock Holmes 3 into development back in 2016 and even scheduled it for a 2021 release, any chatter on the project eventually went quiet, making Robert Downey and Susan Downey’s latest comments the biggest sign in years that the detective franchise may still have unfinished business left to solve.

While fans still wait for Sherlock Holmes to reopen another case file, Downey Jr.’s detective saga had already become one of Hollywood’s biggest mystery franchises years ago.

Inside Robert Downey Jr.’s blockbuster Sherlock Holmes franchise success

Sherlock Holmes dragged Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson into a dark Victorian nightmare of ritual murders, political chaos, and Lord Blackwood’s terrifying rise across London. Led by Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, and Mark Strong, the detective thriller exploded into a worldwide box office phenomenon with nearly $524 million globally against a $90 million budget, while also earning Downey Jr. a Golden Globe victory and multiple Academy Award nominations.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows then pushed the chaos even further after Holmes discovered a deadly Europe-wide conspiracy masterminded by his greatest intellectual enemy, Professor Moriarty. Featuring Jared Harris, Noomi Rapace, and Stephen Fry, the sequel dragged Holmes and Watson through violence and brutal psychological warfare before ending in the legendary Reichenbach Falls showdown. The film ultimately outperformed the original with nearly $544 million worldwide, cementing the Sherlock Holmes saga as one of modern cinema’s most stylish detective-action franchises.

But while the return of Sherlock Holmes remains a mystery for now, Robert Downey Jr.’s detective universe already seems capable of unleashing another wave of cinematic chaos the moment the case files reopen once again.

What do you think, will Sherlock Holmes finally find his way back to the big screen for one last investigation? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Lisa Roy

Edited by

Adiba Nizami