'Sherlock' season 4 release date: Filming to start next year; special episode details
Before the release of "Sherlock" season 4, BBC will be revealing a special episode that will take fans back to the original setting of the "Sherlock" short stories. Co-producer of the series, Steven Moffat, explained why they decided to pursue the project.
According to Digital Spy, he said, "We've got, I think you can safely say, the Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson of a generation — we want to see them do it in the proper outfits, just once. That makes them the only two who've done both [period and contemporary] — apart from [Basil] Rathbone and [Nigel] Bruce, who we venerate, of course."
It was reported that it is not just the setting that will be different for the special episode. Moffat shared that Benedict Cumberbatch will also portray a different side to Sherlock. He will be more polished, like a Victorian gentleman instead of the posh character he plays in the modern-day Sherlock. The special is reported to be its own stand-alone project, and not at all involved with the upcoming season. Moffat shared, "We wouldn't have done the story we're doing, and the way we're doing it, if we didn't have this special. It's not part of the run of three episodes. So we had this to do it — as we could hardly conceal — it's Victorian."
As for the fourth season of Sherlock, the season will explore darker themes. It was stated that the season will play with the original story of Conan Doyle, which was also seen in the previous season. With that, it was hinted that Watson will become married to Mary. However, fans of the series can expect her death, since it was shown in the short stories.
It was reported that filming will begin sometime in 2016. Therefore, the release date of the series will depend on when the productions starts. However, fans can expect Sherlock to return by 2017.