Sherlock Holmes is the current hot ticket in TV and film. Guy Ritchie (Snatch) is preparing a revamp of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective (based on an upcoming graphic novel), a comedy is on the way with Sacha Baron Cohen as Holmes and Will Ferrel as Dr. Watson, and now a contemporary version is being made by Doctor Who showrunner Stephen Moffat and The League Of Gentlemen's Mark Gatiss.
Moffat and Gatiss have each written one episode of a modern-day Sherlock Holmes, and a pilot is being made by Hartswood Films for the BBC. Interestingly, this is the second time Moffat has updated a Victorian character for modern times (following Jekyll) and Gatiss has often written stories revolving around the Victorian period -- like his Who episode "The Unquiet Dead".
If a series is greenlit for next year, Gatiss will become showrunner, but Moffat will focus on Doctor Who for 2010's fifth season.
This certainly sounds like an interesting proposal, if only because of Moffat and Gatiss' involvement. Jekyll was a very enjoyable and unpredictable update, and I'm intrigued by the idea of doing the same for Sherlock Holmes. But, by making it contemporary, don't you immediately lose Sherlock's iconic look (although his pipe and violin could stay)? Will it retain the sense of "Victoriana" everyone associates with the character? And with so many modern detectives owing something to the Sherlock/Watson partnership, will it stand out from the crowd in a contemporary setting? Or will it be just another murder mystery, albeit one with famous names and wry nods to the novels ("Elementary, my dear Watson", Baker Street, Professor Moriarty, etc.)
Lots of questions, to be sure. But, I think we're in safe hands here.
