Is ‘Enola Holmes 3’ based on a real story? Here’s what the franchise writer has to say |
Enola Holmes and Lord Tewkesbury have captured the attention of fans with their brand-new installment in the renowned franchise, sending the viewers back into the 19th century with their edge-of-the-seat drama. As the plot unwraps in Malta under the shadow of colonialism, the emergency is set in motion with the abduction of Sherlock Holmes. Loosely based on pieces of history, writer Jack Thorne highlighted that fictionalising the story played a significant role in creating the film.
‘Enola Holmes 3 ’ and the process behind the creation
Channelising the inner detective, Enola Holmes discovers the word ‘Khost’ while finding her brother in the hotel room, and links it to the ‘Battle of Khost,’ which unfolded during the 1800s Anglo-Afghan Wars. However, unlike ‘Enola Holmes 2,’ which shared the true story of the match girls, the third is loosely based on true events and has been significantly fictionalised. “We fictionalized the story because we felt like if we dealt with the real stealing of national treasures by the British army, then we might cause hurt, and we didn’t want to do that,” Thorne said in the conversation with Tudum.“The Match Girls Society was delighted that we highlighted them and that it led to people looking into them,” Thorne explained about the previous installment, adding that he wanted similar colonial stories but with a different approach. The historical impact was not just for the plots, but deeply ingrained in the characters and cast. Watson is an Indian. “My father was a soldier as well, a loyal servant of the British Raj. He loved the crown, believed in its right to rule India, and I thought he was right to do so. I was a child, and he was my hero,” Himesh Patel’s character says in the film.
About ‘Enola Holmes 3’
Directed by Philip Barantini, ‘Enola Holmes 3’ revolves around Enola Holmes travelling to Malta, finding out the dark legacy of the British Empire. The cast includes Millie Bobby Brown, Louis Partridge, Helena Bonham Carter, Himesh Patel, and Henry Cavill. Released on July 1, 2026, the film is streaming on Netflix.
