According to a press release from Prime Video, the streaming service announced that it ordered a Young Sherlock series to be directed and executive produced by Guy Ritchie (The Gentlemen, The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare). Hero Fiennes Tiffin (After, The Silencing) is set to star as the series’ titular character.
The executive producer, showrunner, and writer for the series is Matthew Parkhill (The Woman King, Deep State). Other executive producers are Simon Kelton (Eddie The Eagle, A Christman Carol), Simon Maxwell (Deep State, American Odyssey), Ivan Atkinson (Wrath Of Man, The Gentlemen), Colin Wilson (Suicide Squad, The Meg), Dhana Gilbert (Vinyl, Boardwalk Empire), Marc Resteghini (Rings, Catwoman), and Harriet Creelman (The Woman In The Wall, Sanditon).
The series is based on the Young Sherlock novels by Andy Lane (Death Cloud, Red Leech). The plot description from the series press release reads, “…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.”
According to the press release, Ritchie promises a series that will present a unique vision of the iconic detective. “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,” he said. “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.”
Vernon Sanders, head of television for Amazon MGM studios, expressed his faith in the series’s creative team. “This exciting, new chapter about one of the world’s best-known literary characters, will delight our global customers with its captivating storytelling,” said Sanders. “With the brilliant creative team, led by Guy Ritchie and Matthew Parkhill, we will explore untold mysteries of how young Sherlock found his way to a life of truth-seeking.”