Why the Fate of 'Enola Holmes 3' Remains a Mystery

Millie Bobby Brown

Enola Holmes, Netflix’s series of YA mystery movies centering on Holmes’s equally brilliant and strong-willed younger sister (played by Millie Bobby Brown), is one of the streaming platform’s most successful franchises. Enola Holmes and Enola Holmes 2, released in 2020 and 2022 respectively, were both among Netflix’s most-watched titles, charming both new viewers and established fans alike (the series is based on a popular series of graphic novels by Nancy Springer). But it’s coming up to a year since the second movie was released, and there’s been no word yet on a third installment. What's the deal? Here’s everything we know about what’s happening with Enola Holmes 3, including who might be cast and what happens in the book.

What is Enola Holmes 3 about?

Officially, there’s no plot synopsis or even a logline for Enola Holmes 3, since the movie hasn’t been confirmed. But it's likely the film will be based on The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets, the third graphic novel in Nancy Springer’s series.

As the novel picks up, Enola is on the run from her renowned older brother, Sherlock Holmes (played by Henry Cavill in the films), who plans to send her to finishing school. She uses a series of disguises to evade him, but is drawn out of hiding despite herself when Sherlock’s right-hand man, Dr. Watson (Himesh Patel), goes missing and a mysterious bouquet of flowers (all of them symbolizing death) is delivered to his residence. Soon, Enola is in a race against time to find Dr. Watson before it’s too late.

Since Patel was introduced as Dr. Watson in the closing credits scene of Enola Holmes 2, the groundwork has certainly been laid for this storyline. But with that being said, the second film didn’t adapt any of Springer’s novels directly, and was instead inspired by real events—specifically the 1888 matchgirls’ strike, in which dozens of women and girls staged a groundbreaking walkout at a factory in east London. So it’s entirely possible that the third installment will take a similar route.

Who's in the Enola Holmes 3 cast?

While it’s impossible to say for sure which actors will return for a hypothetical Enola Holmes 3, the following few are a safe bet.

Millie Bobbie Brown

Having broken out at a young age as Eleven on Stranger Things, Brown has now proven herself capable of leading multiple franchises—her vibrant and witty performance is what anchors the Enola Holmes series. And she’s already made it very clear that she’s keen to return for a third installment.

"I would love to be a part of another one. I would love to see her do more cases, be put under pressure, be put in crazy situations, make her feel vulnerable again. I absolutely love seeing her back at work," Brown told ScreenRant in 2022.

Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes

Cavill, who rose to fame a decade ago as Superman in Zack Snyder’s first DC movie, Man of Steel, seemed like an unlikely choice to play the iconic (and much-adapted) British detective. But his haughty, distant Sherlock is a perfect foil for Brown’s Enola. And though the ending of Enola Holmes 2 (which introduced Patel as Watson) had fans speculating that Cavill could star in a solo Sherlock Holmes movie, Cavill has downplayed that possibility.

“This universe is very much Enola’s, so she’ll always be involved,” Cavill told The Wrap. “I think it’s important to make that connection between the two characters. In all the literature and all the other mediums, he doesn’t have an Enola. He has a Watson, but that’s very different from having an Enola…there’s always this emotionality with the connection, which is otherwise unique to the Enola universe.”

Related: Cape or Not, Henry Cavill's Net Worth In 2023 Is Super Indeed

Louis Partridge as Tewkesbury

20-year-old Partridge had appeared in Paddington 2 and the historical drama Medici before being cast in his breakthrough role in the Enola Holmes series. He plays Tewkesbury, a wealthy but progressive young runaway who befriends Enola as both are trying to escape their families. By the end of the first movie, Tewkesbury has inherited his father’s estate and his seat in the House of Lords, and sometimes uses his influence in parliament to help Enola.

>>> Sign up for Parade's Daily newsletter and get the scoop on the latest TV news and celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox <<<

Helena Bonham Carter as Eudoria Holmes

British acting legend Helena Bonham Carter has appeared as Enola and Sherlock’s mother, Eudoria Holmes, in both installments so far. Eudoria, who raised Enola largely alone after the death of her husband, is a proto-feminist whose activism made a huge impact on her daughter, and the first novel and movie center around her mysterious disappearance.

Related: Everything to Know About the Final Season of 'The Crown' 

Himesh Patel

Patel, who first found success in the long-running BBC soap Eastenders, starred in the Beatles-themed romantic comedy Yesterday and has also appeared in Christopher Nolan’s mind-boggling sci-fi Tenet. He was introduced to the Enola Holmes universe in the second movie’s post-credits sequence, where his Dr. John Watson meets Sherlock for the first time. Whether the third movie follows the Watson-centric plot of the third novel or not, Patel will likely be a key player.

What is the Enola Holmes 3 release date?

Though a third installment of the Enola Holmes series feels extremely likely given its success for Netflix, nothing has yet been confirmed. In the past, there was speculation that a third movie would premiere in the fall of 2024, based on the September 2020 and November 2022 release dates of the previous films—but that’s almost certainly not going to happen, given the lack of a greenlight and the ongoing SAG strike, which has ground most Hollywood productions to a halt.

Is there a trailer for Enola Holmes 3?

There is no trailer yet, as the potential movie hasn't been shot. For now, all fans can do is watch this space.

How to watch Enola Holmes 3

Assuming it gets made, Enola Holmes 3 will be available to view on Netflix. The first two movies are streaming on the platform now.

Next, Everything to Know About 'Stranger Things' Season 5