'Sherlock' Season 4 News: Benedict Cumberbatch Talks About Playing the Titular Role, Special Coming in December
Fans of "Sherlock" will have to wait a while longer until the new season of the show airs. BBC has suggested that the fourth season will air sometime in 2016, but prior to that, the show will air a special in December 2015.
"A special, plus a new series of three episodes—it's a record breaking run!" said co-creator Steven Moffat to TVLine. "Of course, it's far too early to say what's coming, but we're reasonably confident that the very next thing to happen to Sherlock and John is the very last thing you'd expect."
Shooting on the special will begin in January 2015, and production on season 4 set for later next year, according to reports.
"It's taken a little while to get the dates sorted out as none of the boys are exactly sitting back twiddling their thumbs," said Sue Vertue, executive producer at Hartswood Films, "but there was unanimous goodwill to make this work so we're thrilled that 221b is going to be inhabited again."
Meanwhile, Benedict Cumberbatch spoke to Empire Magazine and said that he can picture himself playing the role for a long time.
"As long as the ideas are still there and the audience still wants is and as long as Martin [Freeman] and I are not too infirm that we can no longer remember the lines and shuffle around the set, I'd love to do it into old age, I really would," said Cumberbatch.
The two are currently working together on the third installment of "The Hobbitt" films, with Freeman playing the role of Bilbo Baggins and Cumberbatch as Smaug/Necromancer.