Oscar-nominee Benedict Cumberbatch is set to reprise the role that catapulted him into the spotlight, as he will begin filming the fourth season of Sherlock next spring.
The 39-year-old actor has become a global superstar since the smash hit detective drama first aired back in 2010.
But today it was confirmed that Benedict will begin shooting scenes for the upcoming series early next year, playing Britain's favourite sleuth Sherlock Holmes.
His sidekick and stalwart companion Dr. Watson, portrayed by Martin Freeman, will also make a comeback to the contemporary TV version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic stories.
Meanwhile, Sherlock creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss revealed the air date and title of the hotly-anticipated Victorian special.
Speaking at London ComicCon earlier today (Saturday, October 24), Steven said: “I can exclusively reveal that the long wait for Sherlock will begin again in the late evening of January 1,” reports the Express.
"... 2024," quipped Mark, before producer Sue Vertue confirmed that it will air in America on the same day.
Benedict Cumberbatch will film a fourth series of Sherlock
Mark went on to revealed that the special will be titled “The Abominable Bride” and that the name is based on “Ricoletti of the club foot and his abominable wife”.
Die-hard fans will know that that is a case referred to by Watson in the original Sherlock Holmes stories but not one that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle actually wrote.
The 90-minute episode will be taking the show back to how the author first envisaged it in the late 19th-century Victorian era, complete with Sherlock's pipe and deer stalker hat.
However, viewers should expect quite a wait for season four - a two-year wait to be precise.
Scottish screenwriter Steven revealed: “We've got a clear idea of what we're going to do and it's going to be a clear shift in tone.
“Yes, there's going to be some dark stuff coming but there always is. There always fun and jokes and detection and all that nonsense."
He added: “It's dark in some ways - obviously it's great fun and a Sherlock Holmes romp and all that - but there's a sense of things coming back to bite you.”
Sherlock returns for the one-off Victorian special on January 1 2016 and the fourth series will air in 2017.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAai7yjv6v4
