If one thing is for sure, it’s that the fate and future of BBC’s Sherlock are cluttered, to say the very least. When it first surfaced, the show which stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman received critical acclaim for its smart writing, visual design, and powerful direction, all held together by creators Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, both of whom would be best known for their work on Doctor Who.
Unfortunately, despite the popularity and a massive fanbase, the series began to stumble. While the first three seasons were well received by fans and critics alike, the fourth (which aired in early 2017) didn’t enjoy the same success, thanks in part to a finale that many asserts were convoluted, contrived, and poorly written.
Despite the shortcomings of the season, of course, fans are clamoring for a return. Unfortunately, things are not as straightforward as they appear, with the show’s cast and crew providing different reasons for why a fifth season may (or might 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.
Thus far, it does not resemble the fifth season of Sherlock is from the realm of chance, although the biggest hurdle appears to be finding enough spare time to the show’s main gamers to come together and work on it. To put it differently, we wouldn’t hold our breath for the time being, but we’ll make certain to allow you to know, if any upgrades should arise.
