It’s Official, We’re Finally Getting the Sherlock Holmes TV Event of the Decade

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While stories often focus on the heroes, villains are usually more entertaining. That’s why the news of a new series centered around Professor James Moriarty is generating so much excitement – it’s arguably the most anticipated adaptation of the year. It’s remarkable that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s characters continue to captivate audiences 140 years after their creation.

As a huge fan of compelling characters, I’m really intrigued by this new Moriarty series! Apparently, Fremantle and Archery Pictures have brought in Chris Cornwell, the writer behind A Discovery of Witches, and Oliver Lansley, who did Where’s Wanda?, to develop it. From what I understand, it’s going to be a bit of a twist on the Sherlock Holmes world – think less classic detective story and more along the lines of Dexter. Moriarty will be both committing crimes and helping the police solve them! It’s exciting to finally see this captivating villain get his own chance to shine in a big, epic story.

There Were Several Sherlock Holmes-Inspired Stories on TV In 2026

Despite being canceled by CBS, Watson became popular on Paramount+ when its second season launched. The show, created by Craig Sweeny, offers a fresh take on the classic Sherlock Holmes stories, featuring John Watson as an American from Pittsburgh who investigates medical cases following the apparent death of Holmes.

Randall Park portrayed Moriarty during the first season of the show, and it seemed like that would be his only appearance. However, the show offered a fresh and creative spin on the classic Sherlock Holmes stories, demonstrating that these characters continue to inspire new interpretations even after over 150 years.

The Prime Video series Young Sherlock, created by Guy Ritchie, has been renewed for a second season. The show explores the early years of the famous detective, and features Dónal Finn as Moriarty – initially a crime-solving partner to Sherlock, but with hints of a future as a villain. Finn’s performance as Moriarty was a standout in the first season, so he’s expected to be a key character again in Season 2.

Despite its strengths, Young Sherlock faces a common challenge with prequels. Because viewers already know Moriarty will become a villain, the show focuses on how he becomes that villain rather than offering unexpected twists.

I’m really excited to hear that Sherlock & Daughter, that awesome series created by Brendan Foley, is likely getting a second season! Deadline is reporting it’s “in the works,” which is great news for fans like me – it’s been a hit on The CW and around the world.

This new series features Moriarty in prison, with his son taking on an important role. It joins other recent adaptations of Arthur Conan Doyle’s characters, which are now freely available for anyone to use. However, these series don’t share a connected universe – they’re more like separate interpretations. Each offers a fresh perspective on Holmes and his world, and this Moriarty-focused spin-off looks set to be the most popular adaptation since the hit BBC show Sherlock from the 2010s.

Why the Moriarty Series Could Be the Sherlock Holmes TV Event of the Decade

Although some devoted fans insist otherwise, this character is undeniably one of the most well-known villains in detective stories. Recent adaptations, however, tend to use him sparingly, favoring a subtle approach.

The Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes movies didn’t feature Moriarty until the second film, where both he and Holmes seemingly died. Because a third movie was never made, that storyline ended there.

The character appeared more frequently in the first season of Watson than in the version created by Park. Sherlock, on the BBC, also used the character relatively infrequently, and famously killed him off early in the series, creating a huge online reaction. The following episode even jokingly referenced the intense fan interest in the character’s fate.

Despite Moriarty scheming to cause trouble for Sherlock even after his death, the show never really delved into who the character was. It’s especially disappointing considering the talented Andrew Lincoln portrayed him.

The manga and anime series, Moriarty the Patriot, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, is the closest thing to a Moriarty spinoff we’ve seen. The series uses the characters of Moriarty and Sherlock Holmes to explore themes of social class, colonialism, and broader political ideas. Like other recent updates to the classic Sherlock Holmes stories, some fans might find this version a bit too different from the original.

This new series focusing on Moriarty has the potential to stand out and become a success, even in a market already crowded with similar shows.

What Will the Moriarty Spinoff Series Be About and Will Sherlock Holmes Appear?

Industry publications like the Hollywood Reporter and Variety are saying that Moriarty is currently just a temporary title. The show has been described as a fresh take on the classic crime drama format, but it’s not confirmed whether it will be set in the present day.

Although Watson is set in modern times, Young Sherlock and Sherlock & Daughter take place in the 1800s and the very beginning of the 1900s, respectively. In the series, Moriarty will be a professor of Criminal Psychology at Durham University.

Beyond his work as a professor, he secretly leads a vast criminal network across England, orchestrating major and complex crimes. However, when a competing criminal group emerges, he surprisingly chooses to work with the police, enlisting the help of a determined detective named Imogen Burrows from Yorkshire to take them down.

Moriarty, now a police consultant, will use his investigative skills to unravel the plans and crimes of his enemies. However, he’ll probably try to defeat the leader of this new group outside of the legal system, taking matters into his own hands.

The new series focusing on Moriarty hasn’t said much about whether Sherlock Holmes will be involved. Most people assume he won’t appear in the first season, similar to how the show initially left him out of the first season of Watson. While Sherlock eventually showed up in the second season of Watson, it’s likely he’ll eventually appear in the Moriarty series too. However, even though fans love John Watson, the show might be able to succeed with Moriarty as the central character.

What really sets this adaptation apart from others this decade is its central focus on James Moriarty, a character who has often been underused in past versions. This show has the potential to become the definitive portrayal of Moriarty for today’s audiences.

Development of the Moriarty series is just beginning, and there’s no news yet about when it might start filming or be released. Season 2 of Young Sherlock is currently planned for release around 2027 or 2028.

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2026-05-29 19:39