The outstanding BBC dramaSherlockended at season 4, and Benedict Cumberbatch would only do it again if an important condition were met. Launching in 2010 with a three-part series that blew critics and Sherlock Holmes fans away,Sherlockmodernized Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Victorian story spectacularly for the small screen. From Benedict Cumberbatch’s career-defining performance in the lead role to Andrew Scott’s unpredictable Moriarty, the show nailed the “modern-day Conan Doyle” premise.
Every season ofSherlockhad something unique to offer. Seasons 1 and 2 were universally adored, but the show worsened from season 3 onwards.Sherlock faked his own deathat the end of season 2 in an unbelievable finale, but this was incredibly difficult for the narrative to come back from. This was the show’s peak, but it came too soon, leaving seasons 3 and 4 condemned by many who had loved the show at first. Cumberbatch stated that he would return, but only if they were to do something better than ever.
Benedict Cumberbatch’s One Condition For A Sherlock Return Explained
The Sherlock Actor Put Clear Terms On His Return
The English actor spoke toVarietyin January 2025 about a potential comeback, joking initially that he would if he were paid enough. In previous statements made by Cumberbatch, his co-star Martin Freeman, and showrunners Mark Gatiss and Stephen Moffat, it was noted thatthe actors' busy schedules often clashed, and this made it difficult to film a new season. This remains true, but Cumberbatch expanded in his comments on what it would truly take forSherlockto happen again.
Cumberbatch wants to leave fans wanting more, rather than incur more criticism about the show’s quality.
It is fair if the cast ofSherlockstruggles to get together, one example being how both Cumberbatch and Freeman have roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However,Benedict Cumberbatch’s condition for aSherlockreturnis that the show would have to be “better than it ever was.” This makes sense in light of the criticisms of seasons 3 and 4 of the show, and speaks to Cumberbatch’s Hollywood wisdom. Cumberbatch wants to leave fans wanting more, rather than incur more criticism about the show’s quality, despite calling Sherlock an “itch to scratch.”
There’s One Way To Ensure A Sherlock Return Would Be Better Than Seasons 1 And 2
There Is A Clear Route To Sherlock Success
Sherlockcould navigate the pitfalls ofa potentialSherlockseason 5by making its next comeback a movie.Sherlockis a big enough franchise that a movie would work, either designed for streaming or even on the big screen. Of course, a theatrical return would come with greater risk, but that leads to another benefit of doing a movie instead of a TV season -a movie could get a higher budget. Still, even if it were something designed for the small screen, aSherlockmovie would be a good idea.
ASherlockmovie could focus its usual three-episode-per-season format into one feature-length picture.
With a higher budget than the TV show was used to, but one within the realms of financial stability, aSherlockmovie could focus its usual three-episode-per-season format into one feature-length picture. This would ensure exceptional use of its budget, and considering the profound well of creativity that is the Mark Gatiss and Stephen Moffat duo, this is very exciting. There are manyreasons aSherlockmovie would be better than season 5, including but not limited to how a film wouldn’t risk dragging the story out like it happened on the show.
A movie could focus on the most significant remaining Holmes story, giving Holmes and Watson one more high-stakes adventure. It must be noted thatSherlockhas already had a TV special,The Abominable Bride, which has a 62% score on Rotten Tomatoes. ASherlockreunion movie would have to avoid the mistakes ofThe Abominable Bride, which tried to be a meta commentary on the show while imagining what Cumberbatch and Freeman would look like as book-accurate versions of their characters.
Why A Sherlock Movie Is The Best Way For The Netflix Series To Continue
Sherlock Owes Its Fans A Comeback
Sherlockwas one of the best British television series of the last 20 years at the time and remains popular to this day thanks to streaming, even bearing in mind the drop in quality after season 2. Even afterSherlock faked his own death in the Reichenbach Fall, the show was enjoyable despite all its flaws.A movie would promise that both cast and crew could switch up their tacticsand return with a fresh energy, delivering on the unfulfilled promise of the final two seasons.
The only full Sherlock Holmes story left forSherlockto tell isThe Valley of Fear. It did not seem as if theSherlockTV show was ready to adapt this, especially given Moriarty’s demise in the show. But knowing that Moriarty features in this story means thatAndrew Scott could return in his epic role for aSherlockmovie. If done right, it could work.Sherlockwas only ever as good as its villain - as phenomenal as its central double act was, it needed the right villain to act as their foil.
Sherlock Season 5 Seems More Likely To Continue Season 3 & 4’s Problems Than A Film
It Will Be Hard For Sherlock Season 5 To Reinvent Itself
TheSherlockTV show ended season 4 in a bit of a rut, and it would have to emerge from that through some narrative gymnastics to make season 5 amazing, but a movie would have fewer issues to solve.Sherlockneeded Moriarty, in many ways, and it didn’t know what to do with him. At the very least, it can be said thatSherlockwas at its peak when Cumberbatch was embroiled in a love-hate tangle with the classic criminal mastermind. It would seem fairly odd forSherlockto retcon Moriarty’s death, though, so finding a new story would be ideal.
Sherlockseason 1 has 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, whileSherlockseason 4 has 54%.
Season 5 would definitely have to be presented as a follow-up to former seasons, whereas a movie could be a lot more vague about how much it was linked to the show. It could even present itself as a reboot.Sherlockseason 5 would have to untangle some plot points to bringSherlockup to scratch again in a fifth season, but a movie could be an one-off adventure that would allow for Cumberbatch and Freeman to shine as those characters again.
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WHERE TO WATCH
In this incarnation of Sherlock from creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman assume the roles of Sherlock and Watson as they establish their partnership and begin solving strange mysteries throughout the U.K. and beyond. Set in a more 2010’s modern setting, Sherlock’s eccentric and complex nature is accentuated as he solves seemingly supernatural crimes with unparalleled intellect while struggling to connect with others on a human level. Meanwhile, Watson blogs the stories summarizing their cases while building a strained but caring friendship with his new partner.
