Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are all set to return for Sherlock Holmes 3. In honor of the third movie, here are three stories we’d love to see in the next film.
Sherlock Holmes fans are used to waiting for what they want. Now, instead of waiting indefinitely for Sherlock Holmes 3 to hit the big screen, we know that the movie will for sure be out on Christmas Day 2020. Guy Ritchie, who directed the first two movies, has not been confirmed to direct the new film just yet.
While its debut is still two years away, that gives us plenty of time to go back to the old Holmesian canon to see what mysteries are still left to be adapted.
The last we left our detective, Holmes had dived right over the Reichenbach Falls with Professor Moriarty. Though presumed to be dead, we all knew by the end of the movie that it was just a stunt, and he was alive and well. Even Dr. Watson had an inkling of a feeling that his companion could be alive, too. So where could the next film pick up?
The Adventure of the Empty House
For many reasons, the next Sherlock Holmes movie will likely have to mention this adventure at some point. This mystery is a part of the Return of Sherlock Holmes collection and follows the events after of Holmes’ supposed death over the falls. Back then, when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was writing the Holmes stories, he meant to keep everyone’s favorite detective dead. But years later, he came back to write this adventure, where Holmes reveals to Dr. Watson that he’s not dead after all.
Plus, Holmes tells Dr. Watson: “I owe you a thousand apologies. I had no idea that you would be so affected.” And we really need that kind of emotional stake at play for the two characters.
The Adventure of the Three Garridebs
Speaking of emotional stakes for the two characters, look no further than The Adventure of the Three Garridebs if you want to really see how well the two care for each other. In the story, Homles goes to search for a man by the name of Garrideb and ends up with a lot more trouble when he and Dr. Watson go to investigate. (94-year-old spoiler alert!) While investigating, Waston gets shot and it really distresses Holmes.
Not to mention, we need this line from Holmes after Dr. Watson gets hurt: “If you had killed Watson, you would not have got out of this room alive. Now, sir, what have you to say for yourself?” Because Holmes does not play when it comes to his Watson.
The Hounds of the Baskerville
Is this the most popular Holmes novel? Yes. Is the most adapted story? Maybe, but we still want to see it again. It’s a pretty cool story about weird supernatural dogs that aren’t actually so supernatural after all — because Doyle certainly did have an affinity for the supernatural, regardless of how grounded and rational he wrote Holmes.
Oh yeah, and we need this line as well: “Really, Watson, you excel yourself… It may be that you are not yourself luminous, but you are a conductor of light. Some people without possessing genius have a remarkable power of stimulating it.” It’s not so much a sick burn from Holmes, but rather an endearing way to show his affection.
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There are tons of rich, classic Holmes stories out there. We’re just begging the writers to include a few of these stories and lines in the new movie for reasons.