Young Sherlock: The Perfect Prime Video Replacement For RDJ’s Sherlock Holmes 3

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I’ve been really hoping for Sherlock Holmes 3 with Robert Downey Jr. for ages, but it looks like Prime Video is stepping in to fill the void! Sherlock Holmes, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is such a classic character – everyone knows him! It’s amazing how his stories have been retold in movies, TV shows, and pretty much everything else for decades.

Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows are among the most popular and successful adaptations of the classic stories. Featuring Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes and Jude Law as Dr. Watson, these films skillfully combine action, mystery, and dark humor.

While a third Sherlock Holmes film has been planned for some time, Prime Video now offers a great alternative: Young Sherlock. Based on the books by Andrew Lane, and with Guy Ritchie as an executive producer, Young Sherlock feels like a natural extension of his Sherlock Holmes movies.

Is Young Sherlock A Prequel To Robert Downey Jr’s Sherlock Holmes Movies?

As the title suggests, Young Sherlock tells the story of a young Sherlock Holmes and his early adventures. The series centers on Sherlock (played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin) as a 19-year-old student at Oxford University. There, he forms a close connection with another gifted student, James Moriarty (Dónal Finn), and meets Chinese Princess Shou’An (Zine Tseng).

Sherlock finds himself accused of murdering an Oxford professor, and with his freedom on the line, he and James work to prove his innocence and catch the real killer. Their investigation quickly expands beyond the initial crime, leading them on a dangerous quest to unravel a larger conspiracy and expose long-hidden family secrets.

Set in Victorian England, Young Sherlock feels like it could be a prequel to the Sherlock Holmes films starring Robert Downey Jr., mirroring the style of those movies. However, despite some similarities, Young Sherlock and Ritchie’s films present distinct versions of the iconic detective, and there’s currently no evidence they exist within the same shared universe.

Young Sherlock Is The Perfect Replacement For RDJ’s Sherlock Holmes 3

Although it’s not connected to the same stories, the show Young Sherlock now feels like the ideal substitute for a third Sherlock Holmes movie starring Robert Downey Jr. Guy Ritchie’s films were known for adding a lot of action to Holmes’ investigations – and while the original stories by Arthur Conan Doyle had some action, Ritchie really emphasized exciting action sequences.

Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes films were known for their distinctive look – quick cuts, a cool style, and a dark, somewhat funny vibe. They also featured intricate mysteries that unfolded into even larger conspiracies. The show Young Sherlock Holmes captures all of these qualities, and it’s particularly good at showing how Sherlock thinks and solves problems.

The action sequences in Young Sherlock are well-done and feel appropriate for the characters’ stage of development. This version of Sherlock isn’t a polished fighter like the one played by Robert Downey Jr.; he’s still learning, and his relationship with James is a two-way street – both characters teach each other valuable skills. These imperfections and the growth of the main characters are consistent themes throughout the first season of Young Sherlock.

I really enjoyed how ‘Young Sherlock’ didn’t shy away from the emotional side of things. The Holmes family has a lot going on – Sherlock’s mother is struggling with her mental health, and his father is distant since the loss of his sister. While Ritchie’s ‘Sherlock Holmes’ films were fun, this movie struck a great balance, blending action, drama, and even some humor perfectly. It felt much more complete to me.

Honestly, I was really hoping for another Sherlock Holmes film with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, but Young Sherlock totally surprised me! It’s a fantastic alternative because it shows how Sherlock first became a detective. What I loved most was seeing the early days of his friendship with Moriarty, and how that relationship started to go wrong, ultimately setting them on the path to becoming enemies. It really fills in the backstory and explains so much about their future rivalry.

What’s Going On With Sherlock Holmes 3?

In 2009, Guy Ritchie’s film Sherlock Holmes transported viewers to 1890s London, introducing the famous detective and his close friend, Dr. John Watson. Holmes is a highly skilled detective, renowned for his impressive ability to solve mysteries using deduction and his vast knowledge. However, he’s not particularly good with people.

The film Sherlock Holmes follows the famous detective and his partner, Watson, as they investigate the murders surrounding Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong), a killer who believes he has supernatural abilities and uses dark magic. Adding to the intrigue is Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), a past opponent of Holmes with whom he shares a hidden connection.

Moriarty is a character in the story, but he doesn’t show up until the next movie. Two years later, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows came out, featuring a larger and more intricate mystery. In A Game of Shadows, Holmes and Watson work with a fortune-teller named Madame Simza (Noomi Rapace) to uncover a grand scheme orchestrated by Moriarty (Jared Harris).

The second film, A Game of Shadows, famously concludes with a dramatic showdown between Holmes and Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls, where Holmes appears to die before it’s revealed he survived and was secretly observing Watson. Although both Sherlock Holmes and A Game of Shadows were popular and well-received, a third film has been significantly delayed.

A third Sherlock Holmes movie was first announced in 2011. Initially, Guy Ritchie was expected to direct, but Dexter Fletcher took over in 2021. Since then, the film has faced numerous rewrites and setbacks, though it remains a project the studio wants to make. As of today, there haven’t been any significant new developments regarding the film’s progress.

Young Sherlock Will Hopefully Have A Better Fate Than RDJ’s Sherlock

Although I still believe a third Sherlock Holmes movie might eventually happen – everyone involved wants to make it – it seems more likely that Young Sherlock will return first. Young Sherlock received positive feedback before it even aired, and while a second season hasn’t been confirmed, its chances are looking good.

Young Sherlock has a strong finish, setting the stage for a second season. Early reviews are excellent, suggesting it will be popular with viewers and quickly rise in Prime Video’s rankings. A renewal seems very likely, and we could hear official news before the summer of 2026.

It’s harder to say exactly when season 2 of Young Sherlock will come out, but it will definitely be released before filming begins on Sherlock Holmes 3. While the future of Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes films is uncertain, Young Sherlock seems to have a much more promising outlook.

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2026-03-04 17:40