If one thing is for certain, it’s that the fate and future of BBC’s Sherlock are messy, to say the least. When it first debuted, the series – which stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman – received critical acclaim for its clever writing, visual design, and strong direction, all held together by creators Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, both of whom are best known for their work on Doctor Who.Â
Unfortunately, despite a massive fanbase and worldwide popularity, the series began to stumble. While the first three seasons were well received by critics and fans alike, the fourth (which aired in early 2017) didn’t enjoy the same success, thanks in part to a finale that many argue was convoluted, contrived, and poorly written.
Of course, despite the most recent season’s shortcomings, fans have been clamoring for a return. Unfortunately, things aren’t as simple as they seem, with the show’s cast and crew providing different reasons for why a fifth season may (or may not) happen.
Here’s a quick rundown of what we know so far:
- While Benedict Cumberbatch has expressed interest in returning to Sherlock, he’s warned fans not to hold their breath. The Doctor Strange star already has a rather busy schedule ahead of him, with film and TV roles extending well past 2019.
- Martin Freeman, who plays Doctor Watson, has made it clear how difficult it’s been to live up to fan expectations, and has also explained that working on the show has lost some of its appeal.
- Steven Moffat and Mark Gattis, meanwhile, haven’t ruled anything out, though they were quick to note that are both busy working on other projects – namely, a Dracula series.
So far, it doesn’t look like a fifth season of Sherlock is out of the realm of possibility, though the biggest hurdle seems to be finding enough free time for the show’s main players to come together and work on it. In other words, we wouldn’t hold our breath for now, but if any updates should arise, we’ll be sure to let you know.
