Arguably the most famous fictional detective of all time, Sherlock Holmes has been imagined, written about, reimagined, reinvented, and adapted at least a dozen times. His most famous adventures permeate the social zeitgeist no matter if you've picked up a Sir Author Conan Doyle novel or not. He's been seen on stage, on screen, and on the pages of other novels. Here I am going to run through some of the adaptions and iterations of Holmes' stories, both wildly well known and generally passed over.
On the Screen
BBC Sherlock
(2010-2017)
Staring Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes, Martin Freeman as John Watson, and Andrew Scott as Moriarty, this is one of the most beloved adaptations. With a fanbase that has often been described as feral and delusional in affectionate ways, it reached its peak of popularity in 2014. There are four seasons with three hour and a half long episodes each and one special that ran between season three and four. Each episode covers one of the famous Sherlock Holmes cases starting with this adaptations version of A Study in Scarlet. The twist of this version is the modernization, setting Sherlock firmly in the 2010s.
Sherlock Holmes Movies
(2009&2011)
Staring Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes, Jude Law as John Watson, Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler, and Mark Strong as Lord Henry Blackwood. The 2009 movie titled Sherlock Holmes loosely follows the events of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novel The Hound of the Baskervilles and the 1979 novel Enter the Lion: A Posthumous Memoir of Mycroft Holmes. The film was well received and became the eight highest grossing movie of the year winning RDJ the Golden Globe for Best Actor in Musical or Comedy. The 2011 movie titled Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows incorporates plotlines from The Final Problem from The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes and The Adventure of the Empty House from The Return of Sherlock Holmes. Not nearly as well received as the first film, it still did numbers at the box office. These adaptions are unique for leaning into a comedy bent.
CBS Elementary
(2012-2019)
Staring Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson, this version of Sherlock Holmes is set in New York City in modern times. Steering away from the source meatal, this show focuses more on the characters and their relationships than it does on solving crimes even though that is still major part of the show. With seven seasons and 154 episodes, it was received fairly well by audiences, but never made the numbers that BBC Sherlock was racking in at the same time.
Netflix Enola Holmes Movies
(2020 & 2022)
Staring Millie Bobby Brown as the title character, Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes, Sam Claftin as Mycroft Holmes, and Helena Bonham Carter as Eudoria Holmes, this start studded cast adapted for screen the first novel in The Enola Holmes Mysteries series by Nancy Springer. Enola is the younger sister of Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes. The first film (2020) follows her as she searches for her missing mother. The second film (2022) follows Enola as she opens her own detective agency. Both films were well received by audiences and critics alike. This adaption builds on the existing canon of Sherlock Holmes without making him the titular character.
Netflix The Irregulars
(2021)
Starring a diverse young cast, this adaptation follows a group of orphaned teenagers living on the streets of Victorian London. They begin working for John Watson solving supernatural crimes while on the hunt for Sherlock Holmes. As the story progresses, the five kids find themselves tangled up in a bigger mystery than they signed up for. Canceled after only the one season, it got a 80% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but only a 53% audience score. (I personally loved this adaption and am sad it didn't continue. I felt it was a really unique and new take on Sherlock Holmes.)
On the Page
The Mycroft Holmes Trilogy
By Anna Waterhouse and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Yes, that Abdul-Jabbar. This trilogy follows a young Mycroft Holmes as he is making a name for himself in government. Focusing on Mycroft and the trials and tribulations he goes through during his rise to government power through contacts and secrets, we are introduced to new characters, like his friend Cyrus Douglas, as well as old favorites, like Sherlock himself. The trilogy is generally well liked by reviewers and introduces a whole new angle and storyline to the Sherlock Holmes legacy.
The Young Sherlock Holmes Series
By Andrew Lane
This eight book series follows 14 year old Sherlock Holmes as he finds himself embroiled in his first murder cases. With new friends, new adventures, and even a case that leads Holmes all the way to America, we join him as he starts sharpening his skills as a detective. Well received by readers and reviewers alike, this series is one of the most well read adaptations of Sherlock Holmes.
The House of Silk
By Anthony Horowitz
The estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle announced in 2010 that Horowitz was to be the writer of a new Sherlock Holmes novel, the first and only official endorsement from the estate. The House of Silk follows Holmes and Watson on an all new adventure investigating a case presented to them by Edmund Carstairs. As they dig deeper, they find that this case is much bigger than they first thought, connected to the highest levels of government and the lowest depths of criminal society. There is one other book in Horowitz's Holmes series titles Moriarty.
Charlotte Holmes Trilogy
By Brittany Cavallaro
This trilogy follows the teen decedents of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson as they meet and are framed for murder. Jamie Watson and Charlotte Holmes (the great-great-great grandchildren of the famous duo) meet at prep school in Connecticut and seem destined to be rivals more than anything else. But circumstances throw them together and the only chance of getting out of it alive is to trust each other. This young adult trilogy puts a modern spin on the stories we already know.
There are so many more versions and adaptions of Sherlock Holmes that I haven't covered, but you get the picture. Since the final Sherlock Holmes book entered the public domain in January 2023 more versions of the stories are inevitable. For such beloved characters it is no surprise that other creatives want to play in the sandbox that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created all those centuries ago.
What adaptations of Sherlock Holmes have you consumed? Do you have a favorite? What changes did you like and which did you dislike? Let me know in the comments!
Until the next game is afoot,
Keep wondering and stay wandering!
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