‘Sherlock’ season 4 set for 2016 following a 2015 Christmas special

Sherlock fans may rejoice in the news that a new Christmas special is coming ahead of a full fourth season. BBC One tweeted the news with a sneak of Andrew Scott as Moriarty.

“Sherlock – #221back” was tweeted for the occasion Deadline reported July 2, as the site posted a GIF of Andrew Scott as Moriarty from the last episode of Season 3, and the question, “Did you miss me?” An hour later, BBC One wrote, “It’s all gone dark… Something’s coming… Or someone. Details at 2.21pm tomorrow.”

The BBC has confirmed the popular crime drama will return for a special in December 2015, followed by a series of three new episodes. Shooting on the special will start in January 2015, with the series shooting later next year.

“We’re ready to unleash the most shocking and surprising series of #Sherlock yet. The only thing is to expect is the unexpected…,” said BBC One stated on Wednesday.

The news confirms remarks made by star Martin Freeman, who told The Telegraph a period of filming looked “pretty likely” in early 2015 and that he thought it “might be for next Christmas.”

A new special standalone episode corresponds to Freeman’s comments back in April on a “one-off”  that “there is an idea for this one-off special that’s such a good idea, and as I was listening to it I thought ‘we’ve just got to do this’. And I don’t know when we are going to be able to do it, unfortunately…”

Co-creator, writer and executive producer Steven Moffat said in the statement, “A special, plus a new series of three episodes — it’s a record-breaking run!! Of course, it’s far too early to say what’s coming, but we’re reasonably confident that the very next thing to happen to Sherlock and John, is the very last thing you’d expect…”

Co-creator, writer, exec producer and co-star Mark Gatiss added that the three new episodes will take Sherlock and John “into deeper and darker water than ever before.”

Sherlock season 4 will then likely begin in early 2016. While fans will have a long wait, this will accommodate the intense schedules of Freeman and star Benedict Cumberbatch.

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