The world's greatest detective may soon be back on the case!

"Sherlock Holmes" star Robert Downey Jr. contends that he and director Guy Ritchie could begin work on the third film in the hit series before the end of the year.

“We’re talking about it right now,” the actor told ShortList." "We can do some preliminary stuff.”

“If we could shoot it on Skype, we could have the whole [movie] done in a week,” Downey added. “When we’re making those Sherlock movies it is off the hook. [So] we’ll attempt to make one this year. It really is a big deal to go and do those movies. I’m tired all the time, but I’m so excited about it."

Downey starred with Jude Law in 2009's "Sherlock Holmes" and its 2011 sequel "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," which grossed a combined $1 billion worldwide. Warner Bros. announced in 2011 that development had begun on a third installment of the franchise, but as of last summer the script was reportedly still being written.