Summary

• Sherlock, a modernized take on Sherlock Holmes, will be streaming on Hulu starting March 26 after departing Netflix in 2021.
• Sherlock saw much success on streaming, but has largely stayed off the major platforms in recent years.
• Its return to streaming may spark interest in a potential season 5, which depends on the availability of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.

The acclaimed BBC show Sherlock has found a new streaming home close to three years after leaving Netflix. Beginning in 2010, the show was a modernized take on the Sherlock Holmes character, with Benedict Cumberbatch playing the titular sleuth and The Hobbit star Martin Freeman taking the role of Dr. Watson. Created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, the show won a total of nine Primetime Emmy Awards, as well as a Peabody Award, and ran for four seasons and 13 episodes before concluding in January 2017.

Sherlock enjoyed prolonged success on Netflix before leaving the streaming service in 2021. Now, Sherlock will be coming to Hulu later this month, with Collider reporting that all 13 episodes will drop on the platform on March 26. This will include the divisive Christmas special The Abominable Bride.

Since leaving Netflix, Sherlock has been available on services such as Brit Box, but it hasn't been on a major streaming platform.

Could A New Home For Sherlock Lead To More Seasons?

Sherlock became a huge hit when it debuted on the BBC in the UK and PBS in the United States, and was praised for the quality of its writing, performances, and villains. However, many believed that the quality dropped following the death of Jim Moriarty (Andrew Scott), often regarded as one of the best Sherlock villains, and reception to the latter two seasons was less enthusiastic. Despite this, there remains interest in a potential continuation.

Sherlock was a pop culture phenomenon that almost outstayed its welcome, but could enjoy a new lease of life on Hulu.

Shows based on legendary source material can always prove to be a risk, particularly when updated for modern audiences. Sherlock was a pop culture phenomenon that almost outstayed its welcome, but could enjoy a new lease of life on Hulu. The show's return to streaming will also likely rekindle questions about the possibility of a Sherlock season 5. This has long been discussed, with both creators and stars seemingly enthusiastic, but it will depend a lot on the schedules of those involved.

It is easy to forget the legacy that the series left, and how it changed the way many shows approached detective drama. Sherlock is often considered one of the best shows of the 2010s, and a new audience on Hulu could be just what it needs to rekindle interest and pave the way for further seasons. New Sherlock episodes will depend entirely on the availability of Cumberbatch and Freeman, both of whom have become household names in the decade since the show first aired. However, in today's reboot-happy culture, Sherlock's return remains a strong possibility.

Source: Collider