It’s been more than 18 months since the last episode of Sherlock aired on BBC, but the British network has finally released an image of the show’s stars ahead of the upcoming special, expected to arrive on Christmas Day in the U.K.
According to showrunner Steven Moffat, the next installment of Sherlock will be a standalone episode set in Victorian times, which could help explain the short hair of Benedict Cumberbatch (who plays the titular role of Sherlock Holmes) and the prodigious mustache of Martin Freeman (Dr. John Watson). It also means that fans of the show will have to wait even longer to discover what happens when Sherlock makes his triumphant return to London in the wake of his exile at the conclusion of the third series.
If recent history is any indication, the standalone special will arrive in the U.S. shortly after it airs in the U.K.
Benedict Cumberbatch Roles You Didn’t Know About
Van Gogh: Painted with Words This 2010 docu-drama by the BBC starred Cumberbatch as the tormented Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh.BBCThe Other Boleyn Girl Cumberbatch plays William Carey, a courtier and husband to Mary Boleyn (Scarlett Johansson) in this 2008 historical drama pic.ColumbiaAmazing Grace Cumberbatch played William Pitt the Younger, the youngest ever Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in this 2006 drama about banning the slave trade in the British Empire.Samuel GoldwynCreation Cumberbatch (right) played Joseph Dalton Hooker, an esteemed British botanist and close friend of Charles Darwin (Paul Bettany), in this 2009 British film about Darwin.NewmarketStuart: A Life Backwards This 2007 television drama co-produced by the BBC and HBO starred Tom Hardy as the titular character Stuart Shorter, a homeless activist, with Cumberbatch as Alexander Masters, an author and friend of Stuart.HBOParade's End The BBC and HBO teamed up for another Cumberbatch series in 2012 with Parade’s End which saw the actor play Christopher Tietjens, an English aristocrat and statistician for the British government.BBCWar Horse Cumberbatch (left) takes on the role of Major Jamie Stewart, the leader of a cavalry company in World War I in this 2011 war drama by Spielberg.DisneyAtonement Marking one of his creepier roles, Cumberbatch played a rapist named Paul Marshall in this 2007 British drama that starred James McAvoy and Keira Knightley.
UniversalFortysomething Cumberbatch plays Rory, the son of Paul Slippery (Hugh Laurie), in this six episode 2003 British comedy television series.ITVStarter for 10 This 2006 British comedy had Cumberbatch (second from right) take on the role of Patrick Watts, the smug team captain for a British game show called University Challenge.Picturehouse
