New Sherlock for BBC
BBC One has commissioned a new adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective, Sherlock Holmes.
BBC One and Hartswood Films announce Sherlock, a contemporary remake of the Arthur Conan Doyle classic, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the new Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as his loyal friend, Doctor John Watson. Rupert Graves plays Inspector Lestrade.
The drama is co-created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss. The 1 x 60-minute episode, written by Moffat, will shoot in January 2009.
Sherlock is a thrilling, funny, fast paced take on the crime drama genre set in present day London. The iconic details from Conan Doyle’s original books remain – they live at the same address, have the same names and, somewhere out there in the London of 2009, Moriarty is waiting for them.
“Our Sherlock is a dynamic superhero in a modern world, an arrogant, genius sleuth driven by a desire to prove himself cleverer than the perpetrator and the police, everyone in fact.” Piers Wenger, Head of Drama, BBC Wales
Sherlock will be produced by Hartswood Films, continuing their fruitful relationship with the BBC. Past productions include Coupling, Men Behaving Badly, Jekyll and, most recently, The Cup for BBC Two.
“Everything that matters about Holmes and Watson is the same, Conan Doyle’s original stories were never about frock coats and gas light; they’re about brilliant detection, dreadful villains and blood-curdling crimes – and frankly, the hell with the crinoline. Other detectives have cases, Sherlock Holmes has adventures and that’’s what matters. Mark and I have been talking about this project for years, on long train rides to Cardiff for Doctor Who. Quite honestly we’d still be talking about it if Sue Vertue of Hartswood Films (conveniently, also my wife) hadn’t sat us down for lunch and got us to work.” Steven Moffat
“The fact that Steven, myself and millions of others are still addicted to Conan Doyle’s brilliant stories is testament to their indestructibility. They’re as vital, lurid, thrilling and wonderful as they ever were. It’s a dream come true to be making a new TV series and in Benedict and Martin we have the perfect Holmes and Watson for our time.” Mark Gatiss
“Steven and Mark are such huge fans of the Sherlock Holmes stories that I had a feeling they really would just go on and on talking about it, so I picked The Criterion for our lunch as I knew of its iconic significance in the meeting of Sherlock and Watson and thought it might get the boys attention It did and what has evolved from that meeting is hugely exciting.” Sue Vertue
Commissioned by Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning, and Jay Hunt, Controller, BBC One, Sherlock will shoot in Wales and on location in London in January 2009.