The new series Young Sherlock on Prime Video explores the early life of the famous detective. While Sir Arthur Conan Doyle made Sherlock Holmes legendary for his crime-solving skills, we haven’t seen much of his teenage years – until now. Inspired by Andrew Lane’s novels, the show – with Guy Ritchie as an executive producer – follows 19-year-old Sherlock (played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin) as he starts working as a scout at Oxford University. He’s smart and rebellious, but still learning the ropes, and quickly finds himself caught up in a murder investigation that turns into a worldwide conspiracy.
Sherlock develops a friendship with James Moriarty (played by Donal Finn, known from The Wheel of Time), a clever student who matches Sherlock’s intelligence and mischievousness. This is, of course, the Moriarty who will eventually become Sherlock’s greatest enemy. Initially, however, they connect while solving a mystery, clearing their names after being wrongly accused of a crime, and dealing with Sherlock’s complex family life. Showrunner Matthew Parkhill and actor Louis Partridge discussed their approach to reimagining Sherlock, the growing bond between Sherlock and Moriarty, their casting choices, and Partridge’s feelings about potentially returning to the Harry Potter universe.
Most people already have an idea of who Sherlock Holmes is. This series offers a fresh take on the famous detective, exploring aspects of his life and family that haven’t been shown before.
I’m a big Sherlock Holmes fan, so when I first read the script, a lot of it felt wrong. I immediately thought things like, ‘Sherlock is a skilled fighter,’ or ‘Sherlock and Moriarty are enemies, not friends!’ But you quickly realize how fascinating it is to explore these new ideas. Specifically, the idea of Sherlock and Moriarty being friends is surprising – I know many fans, including myself at first, will disagree. But the story suggests Sherlock may have kept this friendship a secret from Watson, which actually makes their rivalry even more complex and interesting.
Their strong connection comes from a shared understanding of each other’s flaws, and they’re uniquely positioned to challenge one another – likely because they were friends before. It’s immediately clear in the first episode how enjoyable their dynamic is to watch. Both incredibly intelligent, they surpass even their Oxford professors. As somewhat isolated individuals, they find a connection in each other; Sherlock often acts as a foil to Watson, and our story needs that same balance. Once you recognize their friendship, everything clicks – and that’s a testament to Matthew’s performance.
Matthew Parkhill points out that understanding what made Sherlock Holmes the person he was is key. While we know he’s incredibly intelligent, what’s fascinating is his unusual personality. He was a very odd, eccentric, and detached individual. Parkhill believes that to truly understand Holmes, we need to look at his childhood, as the earlier stories don’t offer much insight into his character.
The core idea really began with the family dynamic, the sister’s death, and Sherlock’s relationship with Moriarty. It felt like a fresh start, a chance to really let the imagination run wild. Of course, you have to respect the original stories, but figuring out how to bring them to life is the exciting part. There were so many little details that I loved, like seeing Sherlock’s first tick or fidget in episode two, or the initial glimpse of his desk and pipe. Even hearing some of his iconic lines first spoken by Moriarty was brilliant. As the character Hero points out, Sherlock wasn’t always a skilled fighter – he had to learn, and Moriarty was his teacher. Those kinds of details really sparked my interest. Ultimately, we felt we had the freedom to explore what shaped Sherlock into the person he became.
Does the first season establish the beginnings of the famous conflict between Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty?
I absolutely think so. As a fan, it’s been hard not to dislike Moriarty, but after talking with Matthew, I finally understand their connection. It’s not just from our conversations, though – rewatching the scenes and digging deeper, you realize we don’t want their friendship to end, even though it inevitably has to. They’re really two sides of the same coin, like Butch and Sundance. They’re very different people, but they complement each other perfectly and work so well as a team. The script gave us a lot to work with, and Guy and Matthew were incredibly helpful. We all worked together to create a sense of synchronicity between them. For example, Donal and I would sometimes divide up a block of dialogue, with me doing one line, then him, then me again, so it felt like we were finishing each other’s sentences.
Parkhill: Sentences.
Tiffin and I have a signal – if we hear a sound behind us, we both say, “Okay, let’s pause for a moment.” We worked hard to make our characters feel completely in sync, both in how we spoke, moved, and everything else, so the audience would believe they were truly connected and on the same page.
According to Parkhill, a key element of the story is that the audience and Hero are aware of Moriarty’s future, but Sherlock isn’t. It’s fair to ask why anyone should trust Moriarty, but equally, why shouldn’t they? They’re two sides of the same coin. Think of Watson as Sherlock’s sidekick, like Robin to Batman. However, Moriarty isn’t a sidekick; he’s an equal – another Batman.
Tiffin mentioned that the dynamic between Batman and Sherlock is interesting, noting that both characters learn a lot from each other. She described Moriarty as a surprisingly good friend to Sherlock in the first season, consistently defending and protecting him even when things get difficult. While fans know Sherlock will eventually struggle with darker impulses, he genuinely cares for Moriarty.
I see Sherlock and Moriarty as two sides of the same coin. I envision their friendship gradually turning into a rivalry over several seasons. Their connection is what really powers the show; Sherlock wouldn’t be who he is without Moriarty, and vice versa – it’s a cause-and-effect relationship. It makes me wonder if Moriarty would have just been a math professor, and if Sherlock would have even become a detective. What truly interests me is how their initial meeting sparked a chain of events that led them down completely different life paths. If we continue the show, I’d like to explore what causes some people to choose good and others to choose evil, because I believe both possibilities exist within each of them.
There have been so many great Sherlocks! If any past actor who played the detective could make a cameo, or even become a recurring character, who would you choose?
I’ll admit, I’m showing my age here. When I picture Sherlock Holmes, I immediately think of Benedict Cumberbatch. I haven’t done a deep dive into the history of the character, but Cumberbatch’s portrayal is the one that’s stuck with me the most. It just feels right, and honestly, he’s the Sherlock I imagine now.
We considered having Nick Rowe, the young Sherlock Holmes from Barry Levinson’s film, make a cameo on our show, but it didn’t work out due to his stage commitments. I thought it would be fun for viewers who recognized him from the movie. It also made me wonder how much Benedict Cumberbatch would charge just to appear in the background of a scene!
You started your career with a role in ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.’ Now that a new ‘Harry Potter’ TV series is being made, would you consider joining the cast or crew if you were asked?
Honestly, if the chance came up to revisit that role, I absolutely would. It feels like ages ago now, a completely different lifetime. I still remember auditioning – I went through seven or eight callbacks, and I genuinely didn’t think I had a shot. Looking back at those scenes now, I’m incredibly proud of what I accomplished, and it’s almost like watching a different person. It really does feel like a lifetime ago! But yeah, being a part of that story was a real honor, and I’d definitely answer the phone if they called.
Matthew: You might have just put an idea in their head.
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2026-03-04 17:16