The future of the BBC’sSherlockremains uncertain, but plans for a potential movie exist, which would be a lot better than a fifth season if it weren’t for one problem. As one of the most popular and beloved literary characters, Sherlock Holmes has been adapted to all types of media for decades. Thestatus of the rights to Sherlock Holmeshas given extra creative freedom when adapting the character and his stories, resulting in some interesting versions. Among the most recent and most successful adaptations is the BBC’sSherlock.
Created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat,Sherlockbrought the Great Detective to the modern day, adapting his abilities and cases to modern technology and current social and political issues.Sherlockstarred Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes and Martin Freeman as John Watson, and together they solved different crimes and came across dangerous enemies, most notably Jim Moriarty (Andrew Scott).Sherlockstarted strong with its first two seasons but had a disappointing ending, leading to speculation about a fifth season, but a movie would be a lot better if it weren’t for one problem.
Mark Gatiss Pitched Benedict Cumberbatch And Martin Freeman A Sherlock Movie
A Sherlock Movie Is A Concept, For Now
Sherlockran for a total of four seasons, each with three episodes, but as mentioned above, it had a strong start, but its ending was disappointing.Sherlockpremiered in 2010 and ended in 2017, and while the series’ finale established that Holmes and Watson continued working together like they used to, it left a lot of questions and many disappointed fans. Talks about moreSherlockhappening after season 4 began during production of the final season, with many fans speculating that there would be a “secret fourth episode”, which wasn’t true at all.
In 2014, Moffat told the audience at a BAFTA screening of season 3’s episode “His Last Vow” that he and Gatiss had started plotting out seasons 4 and 5 (viaThe Independent), but the latter never went into production. The main cast and the creators ofSherlockhave since shared multiple times their interest in returning for a fifth season, but Moffat has also mentionedthe conflicting schedules of Cumberbatch and Freeman as their biggest obstacles.
Among the most recent updates on the future ofSherlockis Cumberbatch saying he would return as Holmes if the new season was better than what was done before (Variety) and an update from Gatiss. Speaking at the Italian Global Series Festival (viaDeadline), Gatiss admitted that going back for a new season ofSherlockis difficult, adding that the reason why it hasn’t been produced is that Cumberbatch and Freeman“didn’t want to do any more.”
The big challenge of aSherlockmovie is, of course, getting the whole cast back together.
However,Gatiss revealed that he pitched them aSherlockmovieduring lockdown, which they both liked, but just like the fifth season, it hasn’t happened. The big challenge of aSherlockmovie is, of course, getting the whole cast back together, as they have all moved on to other projects and the careers of many took off afterSherlock. Still, aSherlockmovie would be much better than a fifth season.
A Sherlock Movie Is A Better Idea Than Another Season Of The Show
Sherlock Season 5 Is A Big Risk
As interesting as afifth season ofSherlockcould be, the disappointment and lower quality of seasons 3 and 4 understandably raise questions about what season 5 could be like.Sherlockpeaked with season 2’s finale, “The Reichenbach Fall”, in which Jim Moriarty killed himself to push Holmes into doing the same, but the detective faked his death. Holmes returned in season 3’s first episode, but the show never explainedhow Sherlock faked his death, and his dynamic with Watson changed due to his relationship with Mary Morstan (Amanda Abbington).Sherlocknever recovered from the detective’s fake death, and it only sank deeper and deeper.
The cases were messy, Holmes’ abilities became almost superhuman and very hard to believe, the writing was inconsistent, and no villain could get close to what Moriarty was and did.Sherlockseason 4 introduced the third Holmes sibling, Eurus (Sian Brooke), who turned out to be a criminal mastermind who set up an elaborate trap for her siblings and Watson. This is what made the series finale so controversial and messy, and a big part of whySherlockleft so many unanswered questionsand plot holes.
Sherlockseason 5 would have a lot to fix and make up for if it happens, but a movie would have it somewhat easier. ASherlockmovie would focus on one case and have enough time to properly develop the whole process while also covering Holmes and Watson’s dynamic, which is the heart of the show. ASherlockmovie could be a lot more consistent and give the audience and the characters the closure they deserve and need.
BBC’s Sherlock Already Got A Movie – And It Wasn’t Too Well Received
It Didn’t Work As They Expected
Between seasons 3 and 4,Sherlockgot a special episode that is pretty much a movie. Titled “The Abominable Bride”, the episode was directed by Douglas Mackinnon and written by Gatiss and Moffat. “The Abominable Bride” took the audience back to the 19th century to follow Holmes and Watson as they investigated the case of a “ghost bride” who killed herself but a couple of hours later killed her husband, and continued to commit many other crimes. However, it’s revealed that this Victorian scenario is happening inside Sherlock’s drug-induced Mind Palace.
“The Abominable Bride” has been criticized for its underwhelming twist about the Mind Palace, messy timeline, and illogical and uninteresting (and very predictable) case.
“The Abominable Bride” is 93 minutes long, so even though it’s categorized as a “special episode”, it’s pretty much a movie, but it didn’t do well with critics and general audiences. “The Abominable Bride” has been criticized for its underwhelming twist about the Mind Palace, messy timeline, and illogical and uninteresting (and very predictable) case, though its many references to the books were interesting. At the time of writing,“The Abominable Bride” holds a 62% critics' score onRotten Tomatoes, showing there’s also a risk in making aSherlockmovie.
How The Sherlock Reunion Can Be Better Than The Abominable Bride (If It Happens)
Not All Hope Is Lost With Sherlock’s Future
The key to the success of aSherlockmovie will be learning from past mistakes. Gatiss and Moffat need to be aware of what made seasons 3, 4, and “The Abominable Bride” fail, and avoid repeating those mistakes. ASherlockmovie will also need an engaging case that the audience can solve with Holmes and Watson, and not a predictable one that they will solve before the characters do. Above all,theSherlockmovie needs to be consistentin its tone and narrative, as the inconsistency of these is what killed seasons 3 and 4.
The future ofSherlockisn’t looking very bright and hopeful, and as more time passes, more unlikely is a fifth season or a movie. Hopefully, those plans for aSherlockmovie won’t stay in a “what if” and a pitch, and the characters will have the proper closure they deserved from the beginning.
