Sherlock Holmes Projects on the Horizon Are Generating Excitement Despite Watson’s Possible Exit

CBS’s cancellation of Watson has closed the door on Morris Chestnut’s take on Dr. John Watson, but the larger Sherlock Holmes universe is still expanding. A new project centered on Sherlock’s legendary enemy James Moriarty is reportedly in development, suggesting that the franchise will continue to explore fresh angles on classic detective-fiction characters.

According to a recent Deadline report, the new series, currently titled Moriarty, is being developed by writers Chris Cornwell and Oliver Lansley. The show is described as a modern reinvention of the crime procedural inspired by one of the most famous villains in detective fiction. Fremantle and Archery Pictures are attached to the project and will work together on the production.

The series would reimagine Moriarty as a Professor of Criminal Psychology at Durham University who secretly lives a double life as the mastermind behind a sophisticated criminal network in northern England. The story reportedly begins after a rival criminal organization launches an attack on his underground empire. Forced to respond, Moriarty’s only option is to work with the police as a consultant, using the law as a tool to destroy his enemy while keeping his true identity hidden. He is expected to be paired with Detective Imogen Burrows, a serious Yorkshire detective, and the two characters will likely form an uneasy but formidable partnership. However, the central tension appears to be that the greatest danger may not come from Moriarty’s rivals, but from the risks hidden within his own double life.

Casting for the role of Moriarty has not yet been announced, but the character is expected to be played by a new actor rather than a returning face. More details are likely to emerge as the project moves forward and casting begins.

The Moriarty series is only one part of a broader wave of Sherlock Holmes-related projects that are keeping the franchise active after Watson’s end. Another major title is Enola Holmes 3, with Millie Bobby Brown returning as Sherlock Holmes’s younger sister. The upcoming Netflix film has already released a trailer, and it appears to take the character in a darker and more mature direction than the first two installments. In the teaser, Enola’s personal life becomes complicated when Louis Partridge’s Tewkesbury proposes to her, while Henry Cavill’s Sherlock is shown in danger after being kidnapped. The film is scheduled to premiere on July 1, 2026.

Also continuing the Holmes legacy is Young Sherlock, Prime Video’s British mystery series, which premiered in March 2026 and was renewed for a second season only a month later. The show follows a 19-year-old Sherlock Holmes during his years as an Oxford student before he becomes the brilliant detective audiences know. Hero Fiennes Tiffin plays the young Sherlock, while Dónal Finn portrays James Moriarty as a friend rather than an enemy.

Although Watson will not continue, the Sherlock Holmes universe is clearly far from finished, with new stories, reinterpretations, and spinoffs keeping interest alive for fans of both the detective and his most famous adversary.