Netflix has built Enola Holmes to be quite the franchise ever since the first movie was released in 2020. The film has spawned a sequel and has been in talks for spin-offs for its glorious side characters. In the 2022 sequel to the hit film, John Watson, Sherlock Holmes’s famous side-kick, is introduced. This has caused fans to speculate about a spin-off set in the universe, focusing on the iconic duo.
The Wrap spoke to Henry Cavill with regards to the character, and what the future looks like for the iconic detective and his best friend. Cavill, true to form, answered with nuance and poise, toeing the line between his personal feelings, what the fans want to hear, and what he can realistically say about the franchise.
How likely is a Sherlock-led spin-off?
In conversation with The Wrap, Cavill revealed that he had speculated on the possibility of a Sherlock-led spin-off, or even a third Enola film. He said:
“There’s always whisperings of these sort of things, but nothing is ever official until you enter the first day of shooting, and even then until you finish shooting and even then it has to come out. Right now that’s a that’s all always brings but I don’t know of anything official just yet.”
Cavill seems open to the possibility of a sequel but has also mentioned how different this version of the character is from others. The Man of Steel actor mentioned that the presence of Enola changes a lot of things about Sherlock, even his relationship with John Watson. The actor iterated:
“This universe is very much Enola’s, so she’ll always be involved. I think it’s important to make that connection between the two characters.”
Cavill has always asserted that the inclusion of Watson does not mean Enola being expelled from Sherlock’s narrative. Enola and Sherlock are always going to have a close relationship in these films, which would suggest what a Sherlock spin-off would look like if it were to happen.
So, what would a Netflix Sherlock spin-off look like?
Cavill had a lot of fun playing the character of Sherlock. The set design, according to the actor, was key to letting him get into the character. According to Cavill:
“I enjoyed enormously being in Baker Street, the work the production team did there was extraordinary. It was such a beautifully crafted set, magnificent. I didn’t like to leave that set. I just like to sit in it and enjoy it and feel as much as Sherlock as I possibly could.”
What would add to the character of Sherlock, of course, is Watson, his trusted doctor sidekick. Given how important Enola seems to be for this iteration of Sherlock, it is safe to assume the film (or show, nothing has been confirmed or even announced yet) could see Sherlock struggling with his loneliness with Watson, as Enola pulls the strings to get her brother to make friends and socialize. It could be a very nuanced look at Sherlock as a human being rather than a brilliant detective, allowing for the film to bring in a new dimension to the well-established character.