Enola Holmes 3
Release poster
Directed by Philip Barantini
Screenplay by Jack Thorne
Based on
The Enola Holmes Mysteries
by Nancy Springer
Produced by
  • Mary Parent
  • Alex Garcia
  • Ali Mendes
  • Millie Bobby Brown
Starring
  • Millie Bobby Brown
  • Louis Partridge
  • Himesh Patel
  • Sharon Duncan-Brewster
  • Henry Cavill
  • Helena Bonham Carter
Cinematography Matthew Lewis
Edited by Tommy Boulding
Music by
  • Aaron May
  • David Ridley[1]
Production
companies
  • Legendary Pictures
  • PCMA Productions
Distributed by Netflix
Release date
  • July 1, 2026 (2026-07-01)
Running time
108 minutes[2]
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
Language English

Enola Holmes 3 is a 2026 mystery film and the sequel to the 2022 film Enola Holmes 2, which stars Millie Bobby Brown reprising her role as the title character, the sister of the already-famous Victorian-era detective Sherlock Holmes with Louis Partridge, Himesh Patel, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Henry Cavill, and Helena Bonham Carter appearing in supporting roles. The film is directed by Philip Barantini, making this the first film in the series not directed by Harry Bradbeer, and written by Jack Thorne, that adapts the book series The Enola Holmes Mysteries by Nancy Springer.

The film was released on July 1, 2026.[3]

Plot

In Malta, Enola Holmes and Lord Tewkesbury have arrived for their wedding. The ceremony is being held there because Tewkesbury’s late father, Lord Peter, served in Malta during the British occupation, and his mother believes it is the most meaningful place for the family. Sherlock attends but is openly against the marriage, believing Enola is sacrificing her independence to become a Lady. Enola insists she can be both a wife and a detective.

Meanwhile, Sherlock is secretly working on another case. Before he can explain it to Enola, he disappears. At the same time, a dying Maltese soldier mutters what sounds like “wrath.” Enola later deduces he actually said “Rathe,” the surname of someone important. The soldier had been searching for Professor Adeline Rathe, believing she supported Maltese independence from Britain. Searching Sherlock’s room, Enola finds a torn piece of an expensive woman’s dress. She tracks the woman through Valletta, but before she can question her, the woman is shot by a sniper. As she dies, she warns Enola, “She will kill you.” Enola pursues the assassin but loses him.

Enola discovers the “she” is actually Professor Moriarty, who escaped at the end of the second film and is now living under the alias Professor Adeline Rathe. Moriarty has deliberately created the Rathe identity to manipulate everyone involved. While Enola investigates, Sherlock is revealed to be imprisoned alongside Tewkesbury’s mother.

Moriarty explains she arranged almost everything over the previous year, including influencing Lady Tewkesbury into choosing Malta for the wedding, because she wanted Enola to come there. Sherlock’s kidnapping is simply bait to lure Enola into solving the puzzle for her. She teams up with Dr. John Watson, who has recently entered Sherlock's life, and Maltese freedom fighter Mikiel Mizzi. Their investigation uncovers a conspiracy dating back to the Battle of Khost in Afghanistan. During the war, British officers stole a vast quantity of Afghan gold and secretly transported it to Malta. Tewkesbury’s father had been involved in transporting the treasure, and his war medals become one of the crucial clues.

Enola realises a masked man wearing identical medals is actually the Brigadier, Tewkesbury's godfather and his father’s closest military friend. The Brigadier, the British governor and several senior officers all helped cover up the theft of the Afghan gold for decades. Following Sherlock’s coded clues, Enola locates the hidden cave containing the treasure chest. She knows Moriarty has manipulated her into finding it and expects an ambush. As soon as she retrieves the chest, Moriarty’s hired Maltese soldiers surround Enola and Watson.

Fortunately, Tewkesbury and Mikiel arrive with Maltese rebels, allowing Enola to escape with the gold. Moriarty flees on horseback, leading Enola to the location where Sherlock and Lady Tewkesbury are tied up. During the fight, Enola overpowers Moriarty while Sherlock—after enduring torture—is tempted to kill her. Enola persuades him not to become a murderer, and together they arrest Moriarty instead.

With the conspiracy exposed, the Brigadier confesses his role in stealing the Afghan gold. He and the other corrupt British officers are arrested and imprisoned. Rather than allowing Britain to keep the treasure, Enola and Sherlock ensure it is returned to Afghanistan, acknowledging that it never belonged to Britain. Mikiel believes the scandal will strengthen Malta’s campaign for independence.

After the case is over, Sherlock apologises to Enola for doubting her. The siblings reconcile, and Sherlock finally accepts that she has become his equal as a detective. Deeply disturbed by learning of his father’s involvement in British imperial crimes, Tewkesbury renounces his aristocratic title and seat in the House of Lords. He abandons the name “Lord Tewkesbury” and chooses to live under his birth name, Earnest August Tebbity-Gore. Enola decides to remain Enola Holmes, keeping her own identity after marriage. They finally marry in a small ceremony officiated by Eudoria Holmes.

Cast

  • Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Eudoria Holmes, the youngest of the Holmes siblings who has started her own detective agency. Enola occasionally breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to the audience
  • Louis Partridge as Lord Earnest August, Viscount Tewkesbury, Marquis of Basilweather, who has become a member of the House of Lords
  • Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes, a renowned private investigator and Enola's brother
  • Himesh Patel as Dr. Watson, Sherlock's friend and confidant
  • Helena Bonham Carter as Eudoria Holmes, Enola and Sherlock's mother
  • Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Mira Troy/ Professor Moriarty, a criminal mastermind
  • Jason Watkins as Brigadier Sampson, godfather of Tewkesbury
  • Hattie Morahan as Lady Tewkesbury, mother of Tewkesbury
  • Joe Azzopardi as Mikiel Mizzi, part of the Partito Anti-Riformista
  • Susan Wokoma as Edith, Eudoria's confidante and Enola's mentor

Production

In November 2024, it was announced that a third Enola Holmes film was in development, with Philip Barantini attached to direct and Millie Bobby Brown reprising her role as Enola Holmes, as well as co-producing. It was described to be darker and more mature than the previous films.[4] In April 2025, Louis Partridge, Himesh Patel, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, and Sharon Duncan-Brewster were confirmed to be reprising their roles from the previous films.[5]

Principal photography began on 10 April 2025 in Shepperton Studios, England and in Valletta and Mdina, Malta.[6] On 27 June 2025, Millie Bobby Brown announced that filming had wrapped.[7]

Music

Aaron May and David Ridley composed the score for the film. They replaced Daniel Pemberton, who scored the first two films in the series.[1]

Release

Enola Holmes 3 was released by Netflix on July 1, 2026.[3]

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has a 71% rating based on reviews from 49 critics.[8] On Metacritic it has a weighted average score of 60% based on reviews from 16 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[9]

Benjamin Lee of The Guardian gave the film 2 out of 5 stars, describing the mystery as "far too plodding and far too simple to ever really grab us" and remarking that "it's at least shorter than the last two films ... but in a way that feels more down to a lack of new ideas and general enthusiasm from those involved." Regarding Brown's performance he stated "there's just not enough natural, easy charm and the star, like many maturing child actors before her, can't figure out how big or small to go with her adult reactions, making something buoyant and breezy look far too much like hard work." He summarised the film as "an often thoughtful yet ultimately lesser threequel".[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "Aaron May & David Ridley Scoring Philip Barantini's 'Enola Holmes 3'". Film Music Reporter. 10 March 2026. Archived from the original on 12 March 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  2. ^ "Enola Holmes 3 (12)". British Board of Film Classification. 30 June 2026. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  3. ^ a b Blevins, Adam (23 April 2026). "Netflix and Henry Cavill's 3-Part Detective Franchise Officially Returns on July 1". Collider. Archived from the original on 24 April 2026. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  4. ^ Kroll, Justin (21 November 2024). "'Enola Holmes 3': Philip Barantini To Direct Netflix And Legendary Sequel". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 23 December 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  5. ^ Dillio, John (22 April 2025). "Enola Holmes Is on the Case Again in Enola Holmes 3". Netflix Tudum. Archived from the original on 22 April 2025. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  6. ^ Calnan, Ellie (11 April 2025). "Philip Barantini's 'Enola Holmes 3' with Millie Bobby Brown begins filming in the UK". Screen Global Production. Archived from the original on 16 April 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  7. ^ Anderton, Joe (28 June 2025). "Millie Bobby Brown shares exciting update for her long-awaited Netflix sequel". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 30 September 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Enola Holmes 3". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  9. ^ "Enola Holmes 3 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2 July 2026. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  10. ^ Lee, Benjamin (1 July 2026). "Enola Holmes 3 review – Netflix mystery franchise is starting to lose steam". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 July 2026.