Sherlock’s Nemesis Steps Up: New Moriarty Series in Development

The world did not ask for another Sherlock Holmes spin-off, but television executives are giving us one anyway. Global studio Fremantle and production company Archery Pictures just announced a brand new crime drama series with the working title Moriarty. The upcoming show focuses entirely on the legendary detective's greatest enemy. This time, the bad guy takes center stage to run his empire and help the police at the exact same time.

The End of Watson and Hollywood's Holmes Obsession

Hollywood has a massive obsession with the Sherlock lore that simply refuses to die. Television networks constantly rehash Arthur Conan Doyle's 100-year-old characters to find an easy hit. Sometimes, that obsession blows up in their faces. CBS recently tried to flip the script with its medical mystery show Watson, starring Morris Chestnut. The network officially canceled Watson after just two seasons due to low ratings. Apparently, watching a doctor solve rare diseases while crying over Sherlock's fake death was not what people wanted.

A New Twist on the Classic Villain

Instead of learning a lesson from Watson, producers are sprinting straight back to the Baker Street well. The new Moriarty series turns the iconic villain into a contemporary university professor. By day, James Moriarty teaches criminal psychology at Durham University. By night, he runs a massive criminal network across the North of England.

The actual plot of the show sounds wild. A rival gang starts attacking Moriarty’s underground business. To fight back, the criminal mastermind decides to join the local police force as a consultant. He plans to use the law to crush his enemies while keeping his true identity a secret. He gets paired with a tough investigator named Detective Imogen Burrows. The main drama comes from Moriarty trying to run his empire while his new partner grows suspicious of him.

Who is Making the Show?

Writers Chris Cornwell, known for A Discovery of Witches, and Oliver Lansley, known for Where's Wanda?, are currently writing the scripts. Producers promise a dark, playful dive into the mind of a villain, though the project is still in early development. No actors are cast yet, and no streaming network has bought the show.

The idea of a villain using the police to save his own criminal empire is fun, but everything depends on the casting. If the creators find the next great television villain, this could actually work. If they miss, it might end up in the television graveyard right next to Watson.

What do you think about a show centered entirely on Moriarty? Leave a comment below to share your dream casting choices for the professor!