The much-anticipated third installment of the Enola Holmes series continues the adventurous journey of the clever young detective, now more mature and determined than ever. As the film picks up, Enola Holmes—now running her own detective agency in London—receives a mysterious case that forces her to leave the familiar streets of Victorian England behind. She travels to Malta, a place both exotic and dangerous, where she unravels a tangled mystery that tests both her intellect and her resolve. According to the official synopsis, “personal and professional dreams collide on a case more tangled and treacherous than any she has faced before.

This third chapter is directed by Philip Barantini, whose vision purposely brings a darker and more mature tone to the franchise—markedly different from the previous, more youthful installments. The shift in style reflects the growth of Enola herself, portrayed by Millie Bobby Brown, who has grown alongside the character into adulthood. The tone change has been compared to the transformative turn seen in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, signaling a coming-of-age narrative dressed in mystery and introspection.

The returning ensemble cast lends continuity and depth to the series’ evolving dynamic. Alongside Millie Bobby Brown as Enola, Henry Cavill reprises his role as Sherlock Holmes; Louis Partridge returns as Lord Tewkesbury, whose relationship with Enola evolves as the stakes grow higher; Helena Bonham Carter, Himesh Patel, and Sharon Duncan-Brewster also return as Eudoria Holmes, Dr. Watson, and Moriarty respectively. Their familiar presence reinforces the emotional continuity even as the narrative charts new thematic territory.

Production details further piqué interest. Filming began in the UK around mid-April 2025 and also took place on location in Malta, wrapping up in late June 2025. These varied settings enrich the film’s visual and atmospheric texture, grounding Enola’s adventure in both familiar urban London and the more unpredictable Mediterranean milieu.

As for the release timing, while Netflix has not yet announced a definitive date, indications suggest a release in early 2026—following a familiar two-year gap pattern, as the previous films came out in 2020 and 2022. Fans are expecting the film to appear in Netflix’s spring lineup.

In terms of tone among fans, discussions reflect excitement over this darker turn. One Redditor even remarked, “the only thing I know is that Enola Holmes 3 will be dark, it will be like Harry Potter 3, that will be the tone of the story.

In sum, Enola Holmes 3 appears poised to be a mature, emotionally and psychologically nuanced chapter in Enola’s detective journey. With its darker tone, new locale in Malta, returning ensemble, and stronger sense of personal development, the film promises to deepen the character’s legacy and deliver a richer, more complex mystery for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.