In 2009, Guy Ritchie redefined the Sherlock Holmes franchise with his stylish, action-packed film featuring Robert Downey Jr. as the iconic detective. This fresh take surprised audiences, proving that a Sherlock adaptation could be thrilling and fun. Ritchie continued this successful journey with the sequel, ‘Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows’, in 2011. However, it seemed he was ready to move on from the world of Baker Street’s famous detective—until now.
It turns out Ritchie is returning to Sherlock’s universe with a new Amazon Prime Video series titled ‘Young Sherlock’. This upcoming show will explore a teenage version of the detective during his time at Oxford, where he tackles his first murder case and uncovers a conspiracy. This isn’t the first time audiences have seen a young Sherlock; the video game ‘Sherlock Chapter One’ also delves into his early years, focusing on the investigation of his mother’s mysterious death.
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Drawing inspiration from Andy Lane’s book series, ‘Young Sherlock’ aims to deliver the same engaging entertainment that characterized Ritchie’s films. A critical aspect of the series is its casting. Hero Fiennes Tiffin, who previously collaborated with Ritchie on ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’, will portray the young detective. Additionally, Deadline recently reported that Max Irons, known for his role as CIA analyst Joe Turner in ‘Condor’, has been cast as Sherlock’s brother, Mycroft Holmes. But who exactly is Mycroft, and what role does he play in Sherlock’s stories?
The character of Mycroft Holmes, introduced in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter’, is traditionally depicted as seven years older than Sherlock. Mycroft is larger, more imposing, and possesses deductive reasoning skills that even Sherlock admits surpass his own—a remarkable acknowledgment, considering Sherlock’s legendary reputation. Their deductive duels are showcased in both ‘Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows’ and BBC’s ‘Sherlock’, as well as the classic ‘The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes’ series. Yet, despite his superior intellect, Mycroft lacks his brother’s drive and energy, which limits his ability to bring cases to fruition.
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While Mycroft may not share Sherlock’s passion for fieldwork, he serves a significant role in the British government, although the details of his position remain intentionally ambiguous in the original stories. He co-founded The Diogenes Club, a social club for men of intellect. While not explicitly stated in Doyle’s work, the club has been interpreted as a front for the British Secret Service in various adaptations, including BBC’s ‘Sherlock’ and the 1970 film ‘The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes’. Many fans theorize that Mycroft could be an early version of “M,” the character associated with James Bond, further linking Sherlock Holmes to the world of espionage.
In 1893, Doyle famously killed off Sherlock in ‘The Final Problem’, during a showdown with his nemesis, Professor Moriarty. The public outcry was immense; subscriptions to The Strand Magazine plummeted as fans mourned their favorite detective. This reaction prompted Doyle to resurrect Holmes in ‘The Adventure of the Empty House’ in 1903, revealing that Holmes had faked his death with Mycroft’s help during what fans now refer to as ‘The Great Hiatus.’ Interestingly, the 2012 series ‘Elementary’ flips this narrative, having Mycroft be the one who fakes his own death.
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Despite appearing in only four of Doyle’s original stories, Mycroft has made a lasting impact. With his great intellect and mysterious government ties—possibly to the British Secret Service—he often finds himself in a competitive dynamic with his more famous brother. This enigmatic quality keeps Mycroft intriguing for modern audiences, including notable fans like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who co-authored three novels centered on Mycroft with Anna Waterhouse. Max Irons has big shoes to fill, but if Ritchie’s previous portrayal of Mycroft by Stephen Fry is any indication, he’s set to make a fantastic addition to this new series.
–Farheen Ali