Sherlock Season 4 Release Date and Spoilers: Benedict Cumberbatch Weighs In on 'Sherlock' Future
"Sherlock" lead star Benedict Cumberbatch hinted at last months Comic Con that Series 4 may be his swan song. However, Series 5 may not arrive altogether due to scheduling conflicts.
No more Cumberbatch and Series 5?
Cumberbatch, who portrays the titular role, said that his future on the BBC show remains uncertain.
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He goes as far as saying that Series 4 may be be the last season for the show. Cumberbatch said that whatever is good for the show should be implemented—even if that means ending it.
The Oscar-nominated actor, however, quickly added that he is hoping that he could still take part in Series 5, as he has fun playing the role of the 221B Baker Street resident.
Scheduling conflicts
Most of the cast and crews' schedules are getting crammed, as almost every one of them has been getting more projects than when the show started.
Cumberbatch, for instance, has now joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as he portrays "Dr. Strange" in his solo movie. Several other projects are still lined up for the actor as part of Marvel's grand narrative.
Martin Freeman, who plays Sherlock's friend and crime-solving partner Dr. John Watson, has stepped on the Marvel-verse as well with his role in "Captain America: Civil War."
Show creators, executive producers, and writers Steve Moffat and Mark Gatiss (who also portrays Sherlock's elder brother Mycroft Holmes) are also working on different projects.
Picking up where it left
"Sherlock" airs only three episodes per season, running for around an hour and a half. This format prompted the creators to rule out making a movie version, as each episode is a film in itself.
Series Three ended with Sherlock's return from banishment, which lasted for what felt like only five minutes. His arch nemesis, Moriarty, is threatening a comeback, baffling authorities as he already blew his brains out.
The special episode saw the detective's plane being rerouted back home. Sherlock then battles his drug addiction mid-flight while being induced in his 'mind palace.'
Series 4 updates
Coming out of a two-year hiatus since Series 3, filming for Series 4 wrapped-up on August 5. It is set to premiere on January 2017.
A tweet by show creator Gatiss points toward a much darker theme for the show.
Cumberbatch described the new series as being myopically dark, saying that it may be the darkest series the show has ever produced.
Toby Jones was cast as the new show villain, which Moffat describes as a totally different character in comparison to previous villains.
