Alright folks, let's cut to the chase. As a die-hard mystery buff, I've lost count of the times I've been asked: who reigns supreme, the OG legend Sherlock Holmes or the slick modern Southern gentleman, Benoit Blanc? 🤔 Well, guess what? A real-life private investigator just dropped the mic on this eternal debate, and his take? It’s not as simple as you might think! According to PI Mike LaCorte, spilling the tea for Wired, it all comes down to one major factor: the era they’re operating in. Mind-blowing, right?
Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc next to Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes – two iconic detectives, different eras.
LaCorte straight-up told Wired: "Mr. Blanc is more suited currently." Yeah, in our world of digital footprints, instant data, and tech galore, Blanc's approach is king. He leverages that modern toolkit like nobody's business. But here's the kicker, the real plot twist: "However, if we were to bring Mr. Blanc back to Sherlock Holmes’ times, then Sherlock Holmes would win hands down." Why? Because, according to the PI, Holmes was the undisputed master of the gritty, hands-on groundwork that defined his era. LaCorte didn't mince words, suggesting some modern detectives can get "a bit lazy," relying too heavily on screens and databases.
He elaborated, giving props to Holmes' core skills: "Some Sherlock Holmes techniques, getting out there, speaking to people, doing the covert questioning, statements, that type of fieldwork to supplement whatever you’ve found through all of your datasets can be overlooked by some modern detectives. Doing the fieldwork in combination with what you can do at your fingertips makes you a complete investigator." Boom. Mic drop moment. It’s about blending old-school hustle with new-school tech – the ultimate combo. Holmes had the hustle down pat for his time.
Let's break down their core strengths based on LaCorte's insights:
| Detective | Era Advantage | Key Strengths | Potential Weakness (in the other's era) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sherlock Holmes | Late 1800s | Fieldwork mastery, interviewing, covert ops, physical deduction | Less access to modern databases/tech |
| Benoit Blanc | Modern Day | Leveraging technology, modern data analysis, understanding contemporary systems | Potentially less reliant on pure, gritty fieldwork |
Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) making a point in Glass Onion – a master of the modern mystery.
So, where does that leave us in 2025? Honestly, it's a golden age for both these sleuthing icons! Blanc is gearing up for his next big case in Rian Johnson's Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, hitting Netflix this year. This is the second of the planned sequels, and while its future beyond that is a bit hazy, knowing Blanc, there are always more tangled webs to unravel. The premise is pure genius – just drop him into a new murderous mess with a fresh cast of eccentric suspects. Easy peasy.
Holmes, the absolute legend, is experiencing a serious renaissance! We've got multiple projects cooking:
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Prime Video's Young Sherlock Series: Directed by Guy Ritchie (who helmed the RDJ films!) and starring Hero Fiennes Tiffin. This is gonna be a whole new origin story vibe. Intriguing!
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Sherlock Holmes 3: Yeah, you heard right! After 13 years, whispers about Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law returning for another Victorian romp are getting louder. Downey himself seems keen! Fingers crossed 🤞.
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Sherlock Season 5: And let's not forget the Benedict Cumberbatch fans! Hope still burns for another season of the modern BBC masterpiece. The demand is insane.
Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes in a tense confrontation – the modern TV icon.
Look, Holmes is the blueprint, the GOAT of detectives. Rian Johnson might have drawn heavy inspiration from Agatha Christie for the Knives Out vibe, but Blanc himself? He absolutely carries the DNA of Sherlock – that brilliant, slightly eccentric, hyper-observant mind. It's no shocker that Holmes, the original mastermind, edges out in a pure historical head-to-head based on the skills needed then. But man, wouldn't it be the ultimate game-changer to see these two titans, Holmes in his deerstalker and Blanc in his sharp linen suit, trying to out-deduce each other on the same case, in the same time period? Now that would be a mystery worth selling your soul to see! 🧩 The mind boggles at the possibilities. Until then, we get to enjoy both legends doing what they do best, in their own perfect times. Case closed... for now.