For a while now, we’ve known that Guy Ritchie was interested in doing something in the “Sherlock Holmes” universe. And while he has finally gotten his wish, it’s a whole different take on the character than fans might have been hoping for. Sorry, no Robert Downey, Jr. in sight.
According to Amazon, Prime Video has ordered an eight-episode season of “Young Sherlock,” a series that follows the early years of the world’s greatest detective. Guy Ritchie is expected to direct and produce the series with Hero Fiennes Tiffin slated to star as the title character.
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Here’s how Prime Video describes the new series:
With all the wit and charm of Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes features, Young Sherlock will be an irreverent, action-packed origin story of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved detective in an explosive re-imagining of this iconic character. At age 19, Sherlock Holmes is disgraced, raw, unfiltered, and unformed, when he finds himself caught up in a murder mystery at Oxford University which threatens his freedom. Diving into his first-ever case with a wild lack of discipline, Sherlock manages to unravel a globe-trotting conspiracy that will change his life forever.
“In ‘Young Sherlock’ we’re going to see an exhilarating new version of the detective everyone thinks they know in a way they’ve never imagined before,” said Guy Ritchie. “We’re going to crack open this enigmatic character, find out what makes him tick, and learn how he becomes the genius we all love.”
Ritchie directed two installments of ‘Sherlock Holmes’ films with Downey, Jr. in the lead role. A third film is seemingly stuck in development, but there was talk about expanding the universe. Perhaps this “Young Sherlock” is the first step in that direction.
A release date is still unknown at this time.