By Lacy Baugher for Drama on April 6th, 2016

Filming Has Begun on ‘Sherlock’ Season 4

The game is on (again), says Mark Gatiss. (Photo: ourtesy of (c) Hartswood Films and BBC Wales for MASTERPIECE)

Let the world rejoice – it looks like production on Sherlock Season 4 is officially under way.

Co-creator Mark Gatiss took to the official series Twitter account to announce the start of filming, in fairly dramatic fashion. 

It begins... Filming for series 4 is underway! #221Back @markgatiss https://t.co/QeAiD1nza0

— Sherlock (@Sherlock221B) April 6, 2016

The BBC also released a statement confirming the kick-off of Season 4 production, and announcing the returns of stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. Season 4 will once again consist of three feature-length episodes, the first of which (as yet, still unnamed) will be directed by Rachel Talalay, whose most recent credits include the Doctor Who Season 9 finale. (Incidentally, she’s also the first woman to ever direct Sherlock. Yay!)

According to co-creator and head writer Steven Moffat, Season 4 will see “ghosts of the past rising in the lives of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, bringing adventure, romance and terror in their wake.”

“This is the story we’ve been telling from the beginning,” Moffat also said.  “A story about to reach its climax...”

Dun dun dunnnnn. 

For his part, Cumberbatch said he was “genuinely thrilled to be back filming Sherlock with all the cast and crew. I can't wait for everyone to see season four. But you will have to wait... though not for long... And it will be worth it.”

This news isn’t that much of a surprise, as cast and crew have been actively discussing the start of filming on social media recently: 

Happy Friday everybody  pic.twitter.com/vImv4uwrjv

— Arwel Wyn Jones (@arwelwjones) April 1, 2016

I spy Series Four...#Sherlock pic.twitter.com/W6F8g600vm

— Mark Gatiss (@Markgatiss) March 30, 2016

Stars Louise Brealey and Amanda Abbington even tweeted pics of the script from Season 4’s first episode: 

The sun is dazzling down at Cardiff Central. Can't wait to see all my old friends... pic.twitter.com/BkwMkSV8rT

— Louise Brealey (@louisebrealey) April 4, 2016

 

Let's do this then. #Sherlock #setlock pic.twitter.com/4Plp8qRdRc

— amanda abbington (@CHIMPSINSOCKS) April 5, 2016

Don’t get too excited, though. No official announcements have been made about when we might see new Sherlock on our screens, though everyone’s best educated guess is probably sometime in early 2017.  Speaking at the recent winter Television Critics Association press event, PBS President  Paula Kerger indicated that the new season of Sherlock would bow “about a year from now”.  Since the event takes place in January and that’s also when the show has traditionally aired in the past, it seems like a fairly safe bet.

The series’ recent Christmas special was broadcast on the same day in both the UK and the US, but there’s no word yet on what, if any, kind of gap will be present between British and American airdates for Season 4. (Season 3 had about a three-week window between UK and US premieres, if memory serves.)

So. Keep your fingers crossed. 

Are you excited about the start of Sherlock filming? 

By Lacy Baugher for Drama on April 6th, 2016
Lacy Baugher

Lacy's love of British TV is embarrassingly extensive, but primarily centers around evangelizing all things Doctor Who, and watching as many period dramas as possible.

Digital media type by day, she also has a fairly useless degree in British medieval literature, and dearly loves to talk about dream poetry, liminality, and the medieval religious vision. (Sadly, that opportunity presents itself very infrequently.) York apologist, Ninth Doctor enthusiast, and unabashed Ravenclaw. Say hi on Threads or Blue Sky at @LacyMB. 

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