2026's Two Sherlock Holmes Versions: A New Era For The Great Detective

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Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock Holmes hiding in the shadows in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes A Game of Shadows

Adrienne Tyler is a movies & TV features writer, with a focus on horror. She has written for Netflix, FanSided, & more. She was a regular guest on the Netfreaks podcast and was a YouTuber at some point. Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once.

2026 will be the year of two versions of Sherlock Holmes, and they will make Robert Downey Jr. and Benedict Cumberbatch proud. Sherlock Holmes remains one of the most popular and beloved literary characters, and thanks to the status of the rights to the character and his stories, the Great Detective continues to be adapted to other media.

Some of the best adaptations of Sherlock Holmes in recent years were Guy Ritchie’s movies starring Robert Downey Jr. as the famous detective and the BBC’s Sherlock TV series, with Benedict Cumberbatch as the title character. Now, 2026 will have two more versions of the Great Detective, and they have the potential to make Downey Jr. and Cumberbatch proud.

Young Sherlock Will Release On Prime Video In March 2026

Young Moriarty and Sherlock in Young Sherlock

The first version of Sherlock Holmes releasing this year is Prime Video’s Young Sherlock. Based on Andrew Lane’s book series of the same name, and with Guy Ritchie himself as executive producer, Young Sherlock will follow a 19-year-old Sherlock Holmes (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) as he attends Oxford University.

This college version of Holmes isn’t the accomplished, master detective everyone knows, and he’s actually indisciplined, unfiltered, and a rebel. However, when a murder at Oxford puts Holmes’ freedom at risk, he sets out to solve his first murder mystery – what Holmes isn’t expecting is for it to lead him to a global-level conspiracy and an alliance with a young Chinese princess.

Given the series is about the younger years of Holmes, Dr. Watson isn’t included, but Young Sherlock will feature Sherlock’s parents, his brother Mycroft, and a young James Moriarty (Dónal Finn), who actually forms a partnership with Holmes. Young Sherlock is set for a March 4, 2026, release on Prime Video.

Enola Holmes 3 Is Coming To Netflix In 2026

Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes in Enola Holmes

Another version of Sherlock Holmes will arrive in Enola Holmes 3, to be released on Netflix. Based on Nancy Springer’s The Enola Holmes Mysteries book series, Enola Holmes 3 will see the return of the title character (played by Millie Bobby Brown), who, in this universe, is the youngest Holmes sibling.

After the disappearance of her mother in the first movie, Enola became a detective herself, briefly teaming up with her famous brother (played by Henry Cavill) in Enola Holmes 2. Although details about Enola’s latest case in Enola Holmes 3 are still unclear, the movie is bringing her, Sherlock, Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge), Dr. Watson (Himesh Patel), Moriarty (Sharon Duncan-Brewster), and Eudoria Holmes (Helena Bonham Carter) back.

Cavill’s Holmes is the famous and highly skilled detective everyone knows, and he’s a less cold version of the detective, being a lot more like the Holmes in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories. Cavill’s version is a refreshing one after versions like the action-packed movies with Downey Jr. and the cold, borderline rude version of Cumberbatch, and will bring a mature Holmes after watching a younger version.

Young Sherlock & Enola Holmes Have Similar Main Characters

Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) looking excited while standing next to a candle and a map plastered with colored strings and notes in Enola Holmes 2 Alex Bailey/©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

Leaving Henry Cavill’s Sherlock Holmes aside, Young Sherlock and Enola Holmes have similar main characters. Both are inexperienced detectives who set out to investigate their first cases for personal reasons, and, with time, go on to become the best in the field (though, in Enola’s case, she becomes as good as her brother).

Surely, Enola is now more experienced in her third movie than a young Holmes in Young Sherlock, but both follow the same premise with their young, amateur detectives, while also giving them action scenes. 2026 will be a great year for Sherlock Holmes fans, and it’s to be seen which other similarities Young Sherlock and Enola Holmes 3 share.

  • ygsk_s1_static4x5_teaser_1080x1350_pre_pv_final_en-us_kaps.jpg
    Young Sherlock

    Release Date March 4, 2026

    Network Prime Video

    • Headshot Of Hero Fiennes Tiffin

      Hero Fiennes Tiffin

      Silas Holmes

    • Headshot Of Natascha McElhone

      Natascha McElhone

      Mycroft Holmes

    • Headshot Of Joseph Fiennes

      Joseph Fiennes

      Young Sherlock

    • Cast Placeholder Image

      Zine Tseng

      James Moriarty

  • 01761194_poster_w780.jpg
    Enola Holmes 3

    Director Philip Barantini

    Producers Harry Bradbeer, Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, Millie Bobby Brown, Ali Mendes, Isobel Richards
    • Headshot Of Millie Bobby Brown In The Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
    • Headshot Of Helena Bonham Carter In The 2024 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises

      Helena Bonham Carter

      Eudoria Holmes

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