All 6 Sherlock Holmes Movies & TV Shows Happening Right Now

Sherlock Holmes is such a prominent literary figure, it’s no wonder his legacy lives on well into the 2020s. Since Arthur Conan Doyle originally penned the legendary detective in the late 1800s, there have been many actors to portray Sherlock Holmes, with some— like Benedict Cumberbatch— becoming synonymous with the role, while others were given a lukewarm reception and quietly faded into obscurity. Nevertheless, the character is still evolving over a century after his creation, with each new adaptation attempting to reinvent Sherlock Holmes for its specific purposes, be it modernizing the sleuth or adding new depth to his lore.

The most inventive adaptations can extract key details from Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, and the general premise of Doyle’s writing to create something borderline unrecognizable from the source material. There are countless modern television adaptations of Sherlock Holmes, but there are just as many adaptations that fly under the radar, like Psych, House, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Despite drawing inspiration from Arthur Conan Doyle, even fans of the aforementioned series may never have realized the similarities between Shawn Spencer, Gregory House, Robert Goren, and the blueprint: Sherlock. Yet, that proves the basic character archetype is still rife for experimentation.

Furthermore, some iterations of Arthur Conan Doyle’s work have been so beloved, ardent fans cling to hope that their favorite version of the character will return some day. For example, Robert Downy Jr. hasn’t appeared as the iconic detective since 2011, but Sherlock Holmes 3 isn’t officially off the books. Nevertheless, mystery fans are far from starved for Sherlock content, especially in 2026. From franchise-expanding films to pared-down standalone series, the genius investigator is alive and well in the modern media landscape— and his prominence shows no signs of waning any time soon.

Enola Holmes

2020–Present

Ironically, one of the most highly-anticipated Sherlock Holmes adaptations coming this year isn’t really about the titular detective at all. Rather, the Enola Holmes series is set to release its third film in early July. The soon-to-be trilogy stars Millie Bobby Brown as the eponymous Enola, younger sister to famed detective Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and government worker Mycroft (Sam Claflin). Despite the limitations of its Victorian London setting, Enola sets off on a quest to prove her own skills and find her missing mother. In the 2022 follow-up, Enola expands on her crime-solving passion by opening her own detective agency.

Not much is known about Enola Holmes 3 besides the key players, but it’s widely speculated to be the final installment in the series. There is still plenty of material left to adapt from Nancy Springer’s The Enola Holmes Mysteries, but too much time has passed for Millie Bobby Brown to realistically play a teenager for any future films. Still, there are many unresolved plotlines that the third film will likely tie up with a bow, including Enola’s heartwarming romance with Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge) and her complicated familial relationships with her brothers and mother, Eudoria (Helena Bonham Carter).

Sherlock & Daughter

2025–Present

The CW is fairly infamous for its television adaptations. While Riverdale took the Archie comics to a new, wildly controversial stratosphere, its superhero-driven Arrowverse retains a cult following to this day. As such, when Sherlock & Daughter was first announced, expectations were varied, to say the least. When the period drama premiered, however, critics and viewers alike were pleasantly surprised. The mystery follows Sherlock (David Thewlis) investigating a syndicate known as the Red Thread, while his new second-in-command— Blu Hunt’s Amelia Rojas— is secretly trying to ascertain whether the detective is her long-lost father.

Even the premise may sound questionable to purists, but Sherlock & Daughter strikes a fine balance between typical detective drama and a family conspiracy that feels soapy in the best way possible. The ending of Sherlock & Daughter season 1 left the audience with even more burning questions regarding Sherlock, Amelia, and the London crime scene at large, but its second season could be a make-or-break moment. If the series can continue this positive trajectory, the CW may have a bona fide hit on its hands.

Young Sherlock

2026–Present

Numerous adaptations have attempted to explore Sherlock’s youth, but most fall flat and end up sacrificing the most important traits of the character. Consequently, Young Sherlock could have easily followed in its failed predecessors’ footsteps. Thankfully, the British series instead offers a refreshing new take on not just Sherlock Holmes, but also his most important cohorts. With a 19-year-old Sherlock (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) running amok at the prestigious Oxford University, Young Sherlock doesn’t shy away from the growing pains of an amateur detective long before his prime.​​​​​​​

Similarly, the series revolutionizes James Moriarty’s (Dónal Finn) narrative function by making him Sherlock’s ally and even friend rather than the sworn enemy most adaptations opt for. Despite its many risks, Young Sherlock has been a breath of fresh air for Sherlock Holmes lovers and those who just fancy a good mystery. Unsurprisingly, Young Sherlock season 2 has already been ordered by Prime Video, and it’s sure to take the already captivating adaptation to even greater heights.

Watson

2025–2026

Sergei Bachlakov / ©CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection

In stark contrast to most of its contemporaries, Watson begins by taking Sherlock out of the equation entirely. The renowned detective seemingly dies within the first five minutes of the series premiere, leaving John Watson (Morris Chestnut) to take up the mantle as the main character. Alongside an ensemble cast of highly-specialized doctors, Watson opens the Holmes Clinic in honor of his presumed dead partner. As such, there’s a drastic genre shift from detective procedural to medical drama, which works— until it doesn’t.

Unfortunately, Watson never seemed to find its footing, always keeping one game-changing twist up its sleeve that never felt warranted. Regardless, Watson survived two seasons before CBS officially pulled the plug on May 3, 2026. The saddest part of the show’s cancellation is that a John Watson-centered spinoff could have been something truly special, but it proved to be slightly too out-of-the-box for most Sherlock fans.

The Death Of Sherlock Holmes

Expected Release: 2027

Image courtesy of Sky

One of the biggest moments in the history of Arthur Conan Doyle’s career was Sherlock Holmes ostensibly dying in “The Final Problem” (1893), only to return in “The Adventure of the Empty House” (1903). Within the short stories themselves, Sherlock’s “death” occurs in 1891, while his sudden reappearance is set in 1894. Intriguingly, the author never filled in the blanks for the reader, leaving Sherlock’s three-year sabbatical a mystery of its own.​​​​​​​

That uncertainty is exactly what The Death of Sherlock Holmes aims to examine. The series will follow a post-Reichenbach Falls Sherlock (Rafe Spall) attempting to solve new mysteries while suffering with amnesia. By his side is a local named Alma (Deleila Piasko) who helps the detective acclimate to the Swiss Alps. The release window for The Death of Sherlock Holmes implies it won’t be available for streaming anytime soon, but it will surely be worth the wait.

True Sherlock

Currently In Development

2026 has already brought new releases, renewal confirmations, and exciting developments for established projects, but one promising adaptation is still in its infancy. True Sherlock will be a dissection of the original Sherlock Holmes universe, reportedly planning to tackle broad questions like John Watson’s origin story, Mrs. Hudson’s life before meeting the dynamic duo, and even Moriarty’s path to becoming a criminal mastermind.

The series has only just entered production, but two major cast members have already been revealed. Will Kemp will join the illustrious list of actors who have portrayed Moriarty, while the titular detective will be played by Oli Higginson (best known for being a mainstay of Bridgerton‘s ensemble cast as Footman John). Whether True Sherlock will get lost in the crowd or become an instant classic remains to be seen, but there are plenty of Sherlock Holmes-inspired alternatives awaiting armchair detectives in 2026 and beyond.

Latest Film

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Upcoming Films

Sherlock Holmes 3

Movie(s)

Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows