Adolescence Director Takes Charge of Netflix Family-Friendly Franchise

Adolescence director Philip Barantini was surprised when Netflix offered him Enola Holmes 3 as his next project. Known for his work on the acclaimed drama Boiling Point and the spin-off series on BBC Two, Barantini’s career took a leap with the release of Adolescence last year.

The powerful miniseries, featuring technically impressive long takes, shed light on the radicalization of young men and boys by harmful online influencers. While Enola Holmes 3 seemed like a departure from his previous work, Barantini discovered common threads in the script, written by his collaborator on Adolescence, Jack Thorne.

In an interview with The Independent, the director shared his initial surprise at being offered a project like Enola Holmes 3. He had expected something darker, like Dune 3, following the success of his drama with Stephen Graham. However, after reading the script, he realized that Thorne had infused it with a darker, more mature tone, reflecting Millie Bobby Brown’s character as she has grown up.

Thorne himself hinted at the mature themes in his script for Enola Holmes 3 in an interview with Radio Times. He explained that the film delves into 19th-century British society, touching on topics like land reform, vote reform, the birth of unions, and colonial history.

The third installment of Enola Holmes also features Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Moriarty, Henry Cavill as Sherlock, and Himesh Patel as Watson. Enola Holmes 3 is available for streaming on Netflix, with subscription options starting at £5.99 a month. You can also watch Netflix on platforms like Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.

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