Is Robert Downey Jr Planning A ‘Sherlock Holmes’ Universe?
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Phil Roberts 
The Marvel legend wants to expand the Arthur Conan Doyle legend to form a spin-off universe
With his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe coming to an end, Robert Downey Jr. is looking toward the future, and his long-overdue return the world of Arthur Conan Doyle. A sequel to Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows has been in the pipeline for close to a decade – but for one reason or another the movie has yet to get anywhere near shooting.
As it stands now, the threequel is set to be directed by Dexter Fletcher and is currently slated for a December 22, 2021 release – but I wouldn’t bet the mortgage on it making that! However, all is not lost. In fact, the game is afoot. During a recent panel at Fast Company‘s Innovation Festival, Robert Downey Jr. and producer Susan Downey opened up about their plans for a Sherlock Holmes expanded universe and their response was intriguing.
“At this point, we really feel that there is not a mystery-verse built out anywhere, and Conan Doyle is the definitive voice in that arena, I think, to this day,” Downey Jr. said. “So to me, why do a third movie if you’re not going to be able to spin off into some real gems of diversity and other times and elements?” Susan Downey added, “We think there’s an opportunity to build it out more. Spin-off characters from a third movie, to see what’s going on in the television landscape, to see what Warner Media is starting to build out, things with HBO and HBO Max.”
After helping shape the landscape of the Marvel Cinematic Universe from the very beginning, Downey Jr. has seen it all and bought the t-shirt and he’s got a unique perspective into what went on behind the scenes to create one of the biggest cinematic universes ever created.
“What I saw was very humble beginnings, very uncertain outcomes, a lot of creative risk-taking, but there was also an algorithm to the potential. It’s also having the right people. Different sensibilities will get you to different places downfield.”
I love the sound of expanding Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes universe. The probabilities are truly infinite and the potential for new characters to be introduced in the threequel with their own HBO Max series already in the pipeline is a tantalizing prospect. The last two Sherlock Holmes movies have been wonderfully entertaining (read my thoughts) – and if Dexter Fletcher can harness a shred of Guy Richie‘s brilliance we could be set for a thrilling rollercoaster ride alongside Holmes and Watson for some time.
Bring it on.
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Phil Roberts is the Owner, Daily Content Manager, and Editor-In-Chief of The Future of the Force. He is passionate about Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Follow him on Twitter @philthecool where he uses the force and babbles constantly!
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Source: Fast Company
Phil Roberts is the owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. He is a huge fan of Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies.
If he’s not in the cinema he’s probably streaming something equally awesome!
