A bit of a surprise andperhapsa disappointment toSherlockfans today: it looks likeSherlock’s creators –Mark GatissandSteven Moffat– are moving on. The writing pair, along withSue Vertue’s Hartswood Films, are turning their attention to a new Dracula-inspired series. While details are scarce,Varietyis reporting that the show would be in the same format asSherlock, i.e., a miniseries of sorts with multiple seasons (if the production deal goes through).
Since these are very early days for the series, there’s no talk of casting yet. But with this new series, one wonders if we will end up seeing more ofSherlockor not. Though there aren’t any plans for another season, one also hasn’t been ruled out. Still, with starsBenedict CumberbatchandMartin Freeman’s schedules being so hectic, it’s hard to find time for filming. Plus, let’s be real – the last season or two ofSherlockhave been mighty shaky, and the finale was essentially a prolongedSaw-like torture that did not do its source material or the show itself any justice. It would be unfortunate to end the series on that note, though.
The question for theDraculaseries is: will it be a modernized version likeSherlockwas? Bram Stoker’sDraculais such a heavily adapted work, with that character in particularly common rotation, that the new series would need to distinguish itself in some way (NBC tried it a few years ago with a show starringJohnny Rhys Meyersthat was cancelled after one season). Gatiss – who plays Sherlock’s brother Mycroft on that series – hasspokenbefore about his love of classic horror films, especially the 1958 version ofDracula. And of courseSherlockoften incorperated horror into its stories (although those tended to not be my favorites).
It seems extremely unlikely that Cumberbatch and Freeman would be involved in the new series, though I will be happy to be wrong. Seeing as how Sherlock helped to launch Cumberbatch’s career, Moffat and Gatiss might be looking for a relative unknown to lead this new production. At this point though, everything is speculation, so we’ll let you know more as it’s announced!
