The game is afoot! Kinda. The BBC adaptation of Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular character and Martin Freeman as Watson went on for four seasons (arguably too long, given the critical response the last installment received) and ended its run in January 2017.
It’s been seven years since then, but that hasn’t stopped the show’s co-creator Mark Gatiss (who also played Sherlock’s brother Mycroft on the series) from keeping hope alive that we may yet see a feature set in this world.
“We’d like to make a film but trying to get everyone together is very difficult,” Gatiss told Deadline while he was on the green carpet at the 2024 Olivier Awards, where he was nominated for Best Actor for his role in The Motive and the Cue. He also pointed out that any Sherlock movie hinges on Freeman and Cumberbatch wanting to come back, and suggested that those who want a surer answer should ask the actors their take on the idea.
The potential for another installment in Sherlock is an enticing one, even though the final season left a sour taste in many a fan’s mouth. If Freeman and Cumberbatch were on board and if the script harkened back to the show’s earlier episodes—two very big “ifs”—the idea is one I’d be excited about. Time will tell how things play out, but I’m not going to plan on another trip to Baker Street anytime soon.
