Even though there were almost two years between Sherlock seasons 1 and 2, fans need not worry that it will be another long wait before season 3 makes it on the air. Co-creator Steven Moffat promises that it won’t be “too long” before you’ll be seeing Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Watson (Martin Freeman) back at 221B Baker Street – just don’t expect it to be all that soon.
Speaking with the Radio Times, Moffat emphasizes the time and effort that goes into producing each episode of Sherlock.
“Get used to a bit of starvation. We’re making movies – those six films we’ve made could go in the cinema. You can’t factory produce that – it’s a different kind of show. So, when we’re good and ready – it won’t be that long – but when we’re ready, you’ll get the follow-up.”
This comment, while directed more towards British viewers, who are more accustomed with short season runs of popular television series than their over-seas counterparts, highlights not only their intention of wanting to create the absolutely best programming possible, but also the difficulty in doing so.
For all intents and purposes, everyone associated with Sherlock has become a hot commodity in the entertainment industry. With Moffat busy full-time with Doctor Who (and perhaps a Tin-Tin sequel), Cumberbatch cast as the villain in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek 2 and Freeman staring in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit (which Cumberbatch will also be in), it quickly becomes apparent how difficult it would be to fit Sherlock season 3 – essentially 3 feature films – in their schedule.
Thankfully, everyone associated with Sherlock is up for the challenge. Neither Cumberbatch nor Freeman have any intention of leaving the series, and with Moffat being as big of a fan of Sherlock Holmes as Doctor Who, he’s confirmed that he’s in for the long haul – perhaps a longer haul than anyone expected.
While discussing his intentions with the series, Moffat revealed his brilliant plan of wanting to bring Sherlock back 20 years from now, with Cumberbatch and Freeman reprising their roles.
“I fondly imagine it’d be nice to stop it for a while and come back and see what they’re like in their 40s or 50s. Because normally these two characters are portrayed in their 50s.
So we’re actually at the beginning. It might be interesting in a couple of decades when they come back and [we] see what they’re like.”
Certainly an intriguing notion for Sherlock Holmes fans, Moffatt’s grand vision does have some precedence in the television world. From 1991-2006, Helen Mirren continuously reprised her role as detective Jane Tennison in the original UK series Prime Suspect. Filming 16 episodes over the course of 15 years, Prime Suspect followed Mirren’s character through the entirety of her career on the force. Add 5 years more years to that and Sherlock might just be one of the greatest television series, featuring one of the literature’s greatest characters, ever to air.
But what about Sherlock season 3? What will happen when Sherlock and Watson return to television?
While Moffat is staying quiet about what’s to come, he admits that there’s been a plan in place from the beginning – a plan that is playing out perfectly.
“We knew we had this cliffhanger coming, we knew that we were doing ‘The Final Problem’, and we did not want people to know that [Holmes] survived.
We wanted to wind the audience up so that the final shot [of series two] would have the impact that it evidently did.
We were commissioned for series two and series three at the same time, but we decided to keep it under wraps that day that series three was in the bag.”
Continuing, Moffat highlights some elements that may be included in the future:
“He and Holmes don’t always live together and I think that’s become a lazy way of doing Sherlock Holmes – they always live together.
They didn’t actually and why would they? Nobody flat-shares forever, so there’s loads of details we can get in there.”
And what about the mischievous Moriarty? While nothing has been set in stone, Andrew Scott, the actor that plays Moriarty, has almost completely ruled out any type of return to the series.
“I have had an absolute blast. He is an extraordinary character to play. I was delighted to be given the opportunity to do it.”
Without the wonderfully evil Moriarty, it’s difficult to figure out what direction Sherlock will head in, as it goes into season 3. Thankfully, series creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss are not only brilliant writers, but they also know every Sherlock Holmes story inside and out.
So if there’s one duo you should put your faith in more than Sherlock and Watson, it’s Moffat and Gatiss.
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Sherlock season 2 will premiere on PBS in May. Expect Sherlock season 3 to premiere Summer 2013
Follow Anthony on Twitter @anthonyocasio
Sources: Radio Times, Digital Spy, RTÉ
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They should not bring sherlock back in 2030, they should go on until 2030. Or are there not enough holmes stories for that?
Hear hear!!! TOTALLY agree with that! After all, by the time they end up making every single story, shorts included (we could have say three shorts put in one movie, right?) and then start making them up themselves (after all, there are plenty I’m sure Watson didn’t chronicle) it should give them MORE than enough material for 17+years.
I agree too they should keep running sherlock until they run out of storylines but I dont think it will be as good without moriarty him and sherlock matched each other perfectly!!!!
There are plenty more villains in the Doyle canon, but, since this is set in modern times (as opposed to every other Sherlock put on television), Moffatt and Gatiss have room to play and create their own villains. Moriarty was good, yes, and I’m kinda sad he was killed off early on, but there is always something new to be thought of! I think it will be just as good as when there was a Moriarty.
Personally, I think they should have an episode where Sherlock and Watson come to the states, perhaps in relation to Mrs. Hudson’s husband? I think the writers should develop that story, definitely.
omg, agree with you COMPLETELY. Doyle as an amazing author and Holmes never had an issue taking cases from EVERYWHERE. So happy with this series, honestly Moffatt and Gatiss are doing WAYYYYY better than my imagination which is a first…SO EXCITED FOR SEASON 3
Doyle is definitely amazing, I mean he created Sherlock Holmes, right?
I know, they are doing an EXCELLENT job! I remember I ignored this series for the longest time because I was quite skeptical of a modern Sherlock (written by Doctor Who screenwriters, no less), but now I am completely invested in this series.
And I have a message for the Gatiss/Moffat team: wherever you are, if someone reads this, will you PLEASE tell us what in the world Mrs. Hudson’s husband got benched for? It takes a LOT to get put on death row!
Agreed.
I would like to see the return of Irene Adler, as well and if not the usual suspects, or maybe some new ones.
Sherlock can’t come out soon enough!
what day does it start
Sherlock doesn’t seem like it can have another season, but I’m glad it is.
Less than a single episode of this beautifully written, impeccably filmed, magnificently cast show made me a hopeless addict–and, no, even three nicotine patches won’t help. What does are some of the theories I’ve read here about the end of Episode 6.
WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!
–Thanks to the poster who alerted me to the fact that the screaming child indicates a phony Sherlock was out there. Was it Jim in disguise? Or might it have been a Sherlock lookalike whose body was used to fool John? (Interesting, but seems a stretch.)
–Did Jim actually kill himself? His motivation for suicide seemed completely unconvincing to me. So, yes, he might well have faked his death with the sound of a gunshot and a packet of blood. Thus, Sherlock’s display of angst following Jim’s “suicide,” as well as his highly dramatic note, might have been partly aimed at fooling his seemingly dead audience. However, Doyle did kill Jim off, and the writers/producers could have been reluctant to change that important point.
–Molly would have been the logical choice to identify the body and see to the death certificate. But I doubt she was responsible for the elaborate scheme surrounding Sherlock’s “suicide.” It makes more sense to me that Sherlock would have called upon Mycroft–one of the few people capable of orchestrating such a trick in a matter of hours and keeping it secret. (As I recall, in Doyle, Sherlock needed money so he revealed he was alive only to his brother.)
–As for how Sherlock could survive such a fall, I’m completely stumped. The garbage truck theory could make sense if we hadn’t seen (and heard) the body hit the pavement. Did we actually see another body hit the sidewalk? Maybe. But how could Sherlock have landed in the garbage truck unless the truck was parked on the sidewalk where the body fell? Could Sherlock have fallen on a soft surface made to look like a pavement? Possibly. However, even an experienced stunt man might find that landing highly risky. I’m tempted to think it wasn’t Sherlock who jumped, but then–who would?
Anyway, I’m glad I discovered this marvelous series only last week. Bad enough waiting for months for answers; waiting a year would have been unbearable. Oh and, by the way, the two brilliant actors who play the best Sherlock and Watson ever? They make the show!
Could it have been an air bag like they use in the movies? I rewatched the end again. The truck drives away after a man fall to his death next to it? I believe he landed on the air bag, rolled off onto the pavement. Airbag was rolled back onto the truck and they drive away. This is why Sherlock meets the mortician prior to the “suicide”. Or I could by way off. This show is awesome!
wasn’t the guy with the sniper watching if he had actually died. what is moriaty didn’t die, so confusing!!
He didn’t survive the fall. He never had a fall…
He is in perfect condition when we see him at the end. He couldn’t have jumped.
My theory: He keeps telling Watson to stay where he is and not move. So I think he is behind the dead body of a copy that he organised with Molly earlier. He is holding the dead body up and is making it look like it is holding a phone.
It sounds like the guy playing Moriarty isn’t coming back so he definitely is dead:( So Holmes wouldn’t have to pretend anything to him.
I am really late to this conversation but I just watched the series and love it and this is the first link that came up when I did a search!
Totally agree that the actors are awesome!
Your last two sentences are the truest things I’ve ever read. This show grabbed me from 5 minutes in and hasn’t let go; Cumberbatch and Freeman are electric!
One more thing about the trash truck….What if the hospital has a sidewalk elevator–a special type of freight elevator used to move trash between the basement and the sidewalk outside the building? The elevator would be controlled by an exterior switch and emerge from a metal trap door at ground level. An airbag could have been installed on the elevator platform and raised to the sidewalk level, so a stunt man or even Sherlock could land safely. Then, while Watson was having the wind knocked out of him, the elevator could descend as the metal trap door closed, leaving the sidewalk free for a big puddle of blood and a very “lifelike” Sherlock dummy.
i do wish to be continue starting with prove after few years not so long,and while sherlock cant stay without case while there is a big case happening they couldn’t solve then he show up with the prove he wasn’t fake , but they didn’t show us what he wanted from MOLY and she is the one suppose to bring the prove
I am an older viewer and if I don’t die of anticipation I might of old age. Give me Sherlock now!
you are possibly my favourite human being. just from those 2 sentences, you are now my favourite human being.
I’m fairly positive I know exactly how he survived (which if you repeatedly watch and OBSERVE the jump/landing scene you will also know). I find it humorous that many articles and comments state that they didn’t know he’s survive the fall. (*cough* *cough* *read the books much?* *cough*) LOL!
I LITERALLY LOVE SHERLOCK! BBC HAS MADE ME EMPATHIZE WITH HIM ,-)
I REALLY, REALLY hope they bring Irene Adler back. I just think she & Sherlock fit so well together. Also, a thought popped in my mind today; I really can see the potential of Watson & Molly together. May be I’m just crazy?
I’ve thought about Watson and Molly, too, if/when she learns to see beyond Sherlock. As for Irene Adler…I don’t know, I feel – irrationally – a little jealous when she’s around Sherlock, LOL!
I hope Watson and Sherlock end up together!
I think Sherlock fell onto the garbage truck and rolled off, because remember when he was bouncing the bodies off the garbage can thingy? It was to test that, I think. And he used the packet of blood and the ball he was using earlier in the crook of his elbow to “stop” his pulse so they’d think he was dead. Then Molly or Mycroft helped him from there, but I think Molly had to have been involved because even Mycroft couldn’t easily fake a medical examiner’s notes, because the examiner themself would have to say he’s dead, and I just think it would be easier for him to have Molly fake it because she would go along with it…. But I don’t know.
I keep coming back to Molly saying – repeatedly, “What do you need”, when he snuck in to see her. He knew what was going to go down, needed her help, and she’d do anything for him. She’s involved. I hadn’t thought about Mycroft, but that’s entirely possible, esp because this is all at least partially his fault! Interesting that he wasn’t one of the people Moriarty threatened to get Sherlock to jump.
I think I may know how Sherlock faked his death. One hint we were given is that Sherlock acts out of character in the episode. I believe this act is becoming famous. He had worked many cases without his name getting out and he certainly did not seem to enjoy the fame. I believe he did this to draw Moriarty out. If this is the case it suggests that he was probably working with Mycroft (i.e. Mycroft fed Moriarty Sherlock’s life story on purpose and not by mistake). Given this, Mycroft and an entire team of gov. workers could have helped Sherlock fake his death. I suggest that everyone on the street that day was part of a highly coordinated (Mission Impossible) type plan. Prior to Sherlock jumping someone, possibly Mycroft, positioned himself on the sidewalk near the benches and phone booth. When Sherlock jumped he did so from some feet further up the building. Others have pointed out that the ledge that Sherlock steps up on prior to jumping is different from the ledge he and Moriarty looked over earlier in the scene. Once Sherlock jumps John starts to move around the edge of the smaller building in front of the hospital. He barely gets a glance around the corner before he is struck by the person on the bike. He sees someone lying on the sidewalk and assumes it is Sherlock. Because of his limited line of sight he does not see that Sherlock actually landed on a large mat/pad a little further up the sidewalk. While John is recovering from his accident some members of Mycroft’s team dump the landing pad into the nearby truck while others prepare Sherlock by covering him with blood and possibly placing something in his eyes. They move quickly down the sidewalk and Sherlock chages places with the person on the sidewalk. When John makes it over to Sherlock he is prevented by Mycroft’s team from spending too much time examining Sherlock’s “body”. Other team members then wheel Sherlock into the hospital. At that point he is free to leave. Meanwhile Moriarty’s body is removed from the roof and Molly identifies him as Sherlock. He may be buried in Sherlock’s grave.
There are a couple of potential problems with this scenario. The first is the body actually hitting the ground. I believe that as we are seeing the fall from John’s perspective this scene might portay John’s assumption of what happened and not what actually happened.
Second, the plan obviously would not work if Moriarty was able to look over the roof after Sherlock jumps therefore Sherlock must have gone into the meeting with Moriarty assuming that Moriarty would die. How he could be sure of this I do not know. I thought perhaps he might have dosed him with the chemical from the previous episode but ever after re-watching the scene can not see how he might have done this.
You have missed out the fact that John tested sherlocks pulse. I believe that this was possible because whilst Sherlock was on the top of the building he had a small ball. It is proven that if you put a small ball under your armpit it stops your pulse for a little while.
Your theory is quite convincing and would take a really smart, devoted person who has watched this episode millions of times to get out what you have suggested.
I also believe that at this rate the Sherlock TV episodes are going to become more famous than the Star Wars episodes which I don’t really admire.
Sherlock and John rock. Keep on watching and keep it real. I love you. <3. ;D
Plenty of opinions, some good, some a little far-fetched. So here are mine.
I think the ‘clue’ given by Steven Moffat (Sherlock does something out of character) could be one of two things.
1. He allowed himself to become famous.
2. He asked for help.
I also think Moriarty is dead. Sherlock is too intelligent to not pick up on a fake death right in front of him.
I do not believe John is in on Sherlock’s fake death, we would have to ‘ignore’ way too many things and that would be pitiful on the writer’s part. For example, the lab scene where John gets mad at Sherlock for not being concerned about Mrs. Hudson, the phone call prior to Sherlock jumping and the graveside scene where John gets emotional. I would be very disappointed if John was in on it.
I do think that Molly and Mycroft were involved though. Molly took care of the medical related stuff, Mycroft took care of the rest.
I think it was Sherlock that fell and I believe it was Sherlock on the ground, however I don’t know what happened in between, though he clearly did NOT hit the ground.
I do believe the ‘ball’ was used to prevent John from getting a pulse, possibly some type of eye drops as well.
I also think John might have been injected with the drug from “The Hounds…” episode when the biker hit him. It would have made him confused and convinced he was seeing something he really didn’t see. He saw Sherlock fall and he saw Sherlock laying on the ground in a pool of blood, obvious conclusion in John’s mind would be that Sherlock hit the ground (or so he thinks).
As far as John becoming all ‘sappy’ and not being able to see through Sherlock’s plan, it is very important to remember that John is not near as clever as Sherlock, he doesn’t think the way Sherlock does. John is also more emotional than Sherlock and given that he thinks he just lost the only person that really mattered to him, I would have been shocked if he WASN’T a little sappy. BTW I think Martin Freeman was amazing in the cemetery scene. It was heart wrenching and completely believable.
One thing I cannot figure out and which NOBODY has mentioned, is what was with all the seemingly useless coffee scenes? There is no way the very talented writers/creators included 3 ‘slow motion’ coffee spilling scenes for no reason (unless it was a distraction to make us ‘think’ it was significant). Since Sherlock drugged John’s coffee in “The Hounds” episode my only conclusion is that the coffee was a hint that the drug was used in the final episode.
I have never in my life contemplated so long about a television show. This show is absolutely stunning and I’m a little jealous of those in the UK that they’ll be able to see it so much earlier than us Canadian viewers.
Let me know what you think of my ideas here.
These are EXCELLENT theories (and I’m with you, I’m obsessed over this show)! I wondered about all the coffee shots, too! A little overdone, I thought, OR they’re significant! Martin Freeman absolutely made me cry in the cemetery scene, perfectly in character for him, and shows us how much Sherlock truly meant to him. (I also want to believe that some of Sherlock’s emotion in that phone call was genuine, even tho’ he knew he had a plan for getting out of this.) Love the relationship between those two! Molly has to have been involved; she was pretty serious and level-headed when she said (not asked!), “What do you need.” I never thought about Mycroft’s being involved, but Sherlock’s frequent statement that “He IS the British government” indicates he would be able to be of significant value. Interesting that Mycroft is not one of the 3 people Moriarty threatened with death to get Sherlock to jump.
I also believe Moriarty is dead; Sherlock would not be easily fooled, and the actor has pretty much ruled out a return – AND Moriarty does die in the books. Not sure why he wouldn’t want to be around to see his grand plan come off, but he’s just nuts.
I’m curious as to why Sherlock wouldn’t have let John know somehow that he’s alive – Moriarty’s dead, the hit was called off…??
I’m just going to be a basket case until season 3 comes out. HURRY UP!!!
I’m going to be dead by then. gosh
I for one can’t wait for the next season of Sherlock. I thought Season two ended very well and I’m excited to see what the writers do with the next episodes!
well i didnt read all of the posts. everyone did love moriarty. fantastic match. but 3 things to think about. moriarty is the last name which means there is siblings?? right lol. ok next sherlock came back from the dead why couldnt moriarty as they are evenly intelligent. and last but not least the iconic twins lol. the move prestige. is a fantasic movie even though it had the cliche twin brother bit. moriarty has a prestige. twin or a total reconstructed look alike. i mean he has all the money and resources and could have black mailed the look alike with his family to make him kill himself. but just ideas and the sherlock holmes movies did make moriarty a iconic villian, however it has been said before not sherlocks only enemy…
If Moriarty returned after the Fall, that would be so boring. In the original series, Sir Doyle did away with Moriarty and Sherlock was still the best show around. In my opinion, this is the best and most convincing portrayal of both Watson and Sherlock. I’ve watched them all and this is by far the most gripping. Cumberbach and Martin are a very good team. I am very impressed with their characters and with their careers in other shows. Keep them coming. I am in my late 60′s and don’t know if I will be around in 2030 but if I am, I will still be watching.
Love the series though I haven’t watched it as a television series but through Netflix. Way to much garbage to weed through on the t v for me. I really like the fact that you keep the violence low, and the humor as well as the mystery high. Can’t wait to see your next season! Great job!
This show is amazing i can’t wait for season 3!!
BASIL #1 SH, BENEDICT #2, DOWNEY #3, KEEP THEM COMING. BOTH IRENES ARE INCREDIBLE !!!( PBS AND THE DOWNEY MOVIES). WATCHING THEM ALL AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE.
Well, one or two interesting pearls gleaned from amid the torrent of empty-headed illiteracy and perverted US-style ‘English’ on here. Let’s hope the next series starts soon, if only to put a stop to these outpourings of idiocy!
I think Sherlock is going to be the new Star Wars
About Sherlock jumping off the building faking his death that I think that Moly and he had make the arrangement before hand and used an body from the morgue to look like Sherlock and I think also it was moly on the bike as i’m quite sure Sherlock knew what was going on but he had to save the lives of Watson and Mrs Hudson.
Don’t worry, everyone! Just because Moriarty is dead doesn’t mean his legacy won’t still live on. He’s the kind of mad genius who would set traps for Sherlock and plan elaborate schemes against him long after his own death. I mean, he basically controls the entire criminal network, through people AND technology, so Sherlock might still face him, in a sort of second-hand way. I’m SOOO excited for the next season of Sherlock! The writers better have a good explanation for how Sherlock faked his own death, because I’m completely stumped. Summer is too far away!!