The Creator of Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock is Eager to Continue the Series, and Already Has Ideas for Bringing Back the Brilliant Detective

Sherlock Holmes is one of the most iconic characters in popular culture, often seen as a precursor to modern-day superheroes due to his similar qualities. Since the explosion of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's works, his stories have been adapted numerous times in both film and television. Marvel stars Robert Downey Jr. and Benedict Cumberbatch have both portrayed the brilliant detective, each with their own interpretation. Perhaps Cumberbatch’s version in the Sherlock series was the more original, as it was set in the present day. Although Sherlock ended years ago, showrunner Steven Moffat is keen to continue, and he’s already been toying with the idea of bringing the characters back as older versions of themselves.

In an interview with SFX magazine, relayed by GamesRadar+, Moffat responded to questions about the potential for a Sherlock continuation. This came after producer Sue Vertue recently told Deadline she was open to the idea of a new season, provided both Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman were on board. Naturally, Moffat isn't ruling it out and is enthusiastic about the possibility:

"I’d love to get back to it. Look, this format is never going to run out of steam. It’s over a hundred years old and it’s only getting stronger, so why not make more of it? Of course, Sue only said that because she was asked, and suddenly journalists turned it into a film announcement! There's no actual news here. We’re just dodging the question, as always. But I’d be more than happy to dive into the series again, and I hope one day we will. It would be crazy not to. There are plenty of shows being made nowadays that no one cares about, so it's a great thing to have a show that viewers love so passionately. It would almost be daring, even arrogant, not to do it again. But for now, there are no definite plans. We can’t say anything like that yet."

Moffat continued, sharing a specific idea he’s had:

"We do have ideas. One of them is to dive in again, but there’s a more concrete concept… It would be lovely to see our characters a little older, as our version has always portrayed them as slightly younger than in earlier stories. So, it would be wonderful to see them in the age range of Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke, or even closer to Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. That would be splendid. This time, we'd see their more widely recognized middle-aged versions. So, there's a whole audience waiting for that. It would be madness not to continue."

Sherlock began airing on BBC One in 2010, with four seasons and feature-length episodes that could be considered akin to films. Set in modern-day London, the series follows Holmes and his loyal partner Watson as they face off against their arch-nemesis Moriarty (Andrew Scott). The show garnered numerous awards and nominations, including BAFTA and Emmy wins for stars Cumberbatch and Freeman. Sherlock was a pivotal moment in both actors' careers, helping them secure roles in major franchises such as The Lord of the Rings and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, further enhancing their fame.

Meanwhile, the Robert Downey Jr.-led Sherlock Holmes universe is definitely expanding in the near future, with not just one series in the works but also a positive update on the third film from Jude Law.