For a character who first appeared over 130 years ago, Sherlock Holmes is still extremely viable in television and movies, as seen by the number of projects in progress. (That’s probably helped by the stories becoming public domain two years ago.) Here’s a rundown of the works now available or coming soon.
Watson
The most visible TV show is CBS’ Watson. Starring Morris Chestnut as Dr. John Watson, the show is more House than Holmes. It’s a medical procedural set during a period where Watson thinks Holmes is dead, after the detective and arch-villain Moriarty went over a waterfall (and Watson jumped in after them, a new twist that makes sense for this protagonist version of the sidekick).
Moriarty (Randall Park) is the most Sherlockian thing about the show, which otherwise features Watson mentoring a group of young, photogenic associates, each with their own quirk. Famous characters Irene Adler (Whoopie Van Raam) and Mycroft Holmes (Vincent Gale) have made appearances, while Watson recalling the voice of Sherlock (Matt Berry) is the closest we’ve gotten to the great detective.
Watson aired 13 episodes in its first season and has been renewed for a second, which will debut in January 2026. (Trivia: Chestnut is not the first person of color to play Watson. Royce Pierreson took the role in the 2021 Netflix series The Irregulars.)
Sherlock and Daughter
This series, which has flown under the radar for many fans, aired eight episodes on The CW earlier this year. Sherlock Holmes (David Thewlis) teams up with the American Amelia (Blu Hunt), who says she’s his daughter, in order to solve her mother’s murder. There’s also a Moriarty (Dougray Scott).
Due to plot machinations, Amelia goes out and does most of the investigating, trying to find a missing young lady in the first few episodes. Thewlis is well-cast but the show isn’t particularly memorable or involving; there’s been no word on a renewal at this time.
Young Sherlock
Hero Fiennes Tiffin will play a 19-year-old Sherlock Holmes at Oxford in this eight-episode Amazon show based on the novel series by Andy Lane. Guy Ritchie will direct and executive produce, which is interesting, since he directed the two movies starring Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes. (Last year, producer Susan Downey was still talking about hopes for a third film, but it seems unlikely at this point, although hope springs eternal.)
Typical of projects starring young versions of well-known characters, they’re planning to show how he became the genius we know. The source series is described as “action-packed” with an undisciplined, raw Holmes. Joseph Fiennes, Hero’s real-life uncle, plays his father and Natascha McElhone his mother. Filming took place in 2024, but no release date has yet been announced.
The Baker Street Four
An animated series about three street kids and a cat named Watson, aimed at ages 6-10, is now in production in France. The kids are members of Holmes’ Baker Street Irregulars and solve mysteries on their own. It’s based on a comic book written by Jean-Blaise Djian and Olivier Legrand and illustrated by David Etien, which has been translated into English by Insight Books. It’s planned to air in 2027.
Sherlock (BBC)
Speaking of hope, some are still looking for that fifth season of the BBC series Sherlock, co-created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss. It’s very unlikely, as stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are doing other things and don’t seem interested in returning. If we ever see it again, it might be as a film.
But speaking of Gatiss, he’s got a new detective series coming called Bookish. He’s written, produced, and stars as Gabriel Book, owner of a bookshop in 1946 London. The character is gay, in a lavender marriage with “Trottie” (Polly Walker), and uses the resources of his shop to solve crimes.
The show launches July 16 in the UK on U&Alibi, with US airing planned on PBS at some future date. It’s already been renewed for a second season (and personally, I think it looks fantastic).
Enola Holmes 3
The third movie in the Netflix series about Sherlock Holmes’ younger sister, Enola (Millie Bobby Brown), started filming in April. The writer of the first two films, Jack Thorne, returns; the character was created by Nancy Springer in her novel series.
Henry Cavill returns as Sherlock Holmes, with Louis Partridge (Lord Viscount Tewkesbury) also coming back. Himesh Patel plays Watson.
And that’s the only Sherlock Holmes movie in production I’m aware of! Which is surprising, although maybe an indication of how streaming is currently more viable for non-blockbuster projects.
Sherlock & Co.
What the above all have in common is that they don’t use Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic stories. The exception is here: the Sherlock & Co. audio drama podcast modernizes the original tales with Dr. John Watson (Paul Waggott), returned from Ukraine to become a “true crime podcaster”, and his roommate Sherlock Holmes (Harry Attwell), who’s acknowledged as being on the spectrum. It’s a fabulous listen, particularly if you miss the Sherlock approach, with a modern-day setting.
Sherlock Holmes and The Twelve Days of Christmas
This, believe it or not, is an announced comedy play with songs by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Its world premiere is at Birmingham Rep from 14 November 2025 to 11 January 2026. Set in Victorian times, performers are dying, and Holmes must follow the song to solve the mystery, helped by Dr. Watson and “detective Athena Faversham” (who?).