One of the most frustratingly fantastic TV series still producing new material nowadays is definitely Sherlock. The series is applauded for how stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman bring Sherlock Holmes and John Watson to life in a modern retelling of the Arthur Conan Doyle mystery stories, but is frustrating because new material isn’t exactly produced on the regular. In the years since the show's debut in 2010, only ten episodes and three seasons have aired. Unfortunately for fans, PBS president Paula Kerger has revealed that Season 4 is still a ways off.
As you know, Benedict Cumberbatch has gotten to be somewhat popular since we began our work with him and he very much wants to continue with Sherlock. As you know, they are produced almost like films, and we’re hoping the next one will be about a year from now.
Paula Kerger’s interview with Zap2It is a bit of a bummer, to say the least. PBS is the American platform for airing episodes of the BBC series, so there’s no reason to believe that Kerger is mistaken in her prediction of a hiatus before Sherlock returns to the airwaves.
Of course, Sherlock fans may be somewhat used to long waits between episodes, but there have been some clues that a fourth season would be coming sooner rather than later. Between the January 1 airing of the Sherlock Victorian special and the reveal that the fourth season would be going into production in spring of 2016, it seemed likely that Sherlock would be releasing some new installments before the new year.
Alas, the game shall not be back afoot until some point in 2017. Still, it's true that Benedict Cumberbatch has had an awful lot going on to prevent him from prioritizing a fourth season. He’s had some major roles on the big screen, ranging from Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness, Alan Turing in The Imitation Game, and Dr. Stephen Strange in Marvel’s highly-anticipated Dr. Strange. He even found the time to clock in some Shakespeare with The Hollow Crown series of adaptations on the BBC.
Benedict Cumberbatch is not the only busy actor in the cast. Martin Freeman starred in three massive film events as Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit trilogy, turned in a fantastic performance in the Fargo TV series, and is set to have a role in Marvel’s upcoming Captain America: Civil War. Sherlock may be named for Cumberbatch’s character, but the show wouldn’t feel right without Freeman on board as Dr. Watson.
All in all, news that Sherlock won’t be airing any new episodes in 2016 is rough for fans, especially considering the stellar Victorian special that served as a reminder of just how wonderful the series can be. At least Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman will have some projects for fans to enjoy in the meantime. Who knows? Maybe their latest characters will cross paths in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
