Rafe Spall drama will be co-produced across Switzerland, Germany and Belgium
Sky in the UK has partnered with broadcasters across Europe on upcoming Rafe Spall drama The Death of Sherlock Holmes.
Distributor Sphere Abacus oversaw the deal for the Swiss-German-Belgian drama, which will be produced by Zurich-based Silver Reel (Fallen).
Sky Switzerland and fellow Swiss broadcaster SRF are onboard, alongside ARD Degeto in Germany and Brussels-based group Umedia.
Set in the Swiss Alps, the drama begins with the apparent death of Sherlock Holmes at the Reichenbach Falls in his final duel with Professor Moriarty.
The story goes on to reveal what happened during the three years between his disappearance in 1891 and his return in 1894 – a chapter that Arthur Conan Doyle left untold.
The series has been created by Claudia Bluemhuber (Fallen), André Küttel (Platzspitzbaby) and Pierre Monnard (Winter Palace), with Küttel and Simone Schmid (Die Beschatter) writing.
The series has started production, with Pierre Monnard and Bluemhuber directing, and will land on Sky and Now in the UK and Ireland in 2027.
Sky’s group director of acquisitions, Katie Keenan, described the show as a “smart new reimagining that opens up an untold chapter in the Sherlock Holmes story -anchored by the return of Rafe Spall to Sky in the leading role.”
Sphere Abacus managing director, Jonathan Ford, said: “Audiences continue to be enthralled by the exploits of Sherlock Holmes. This new iteration, created by our friends at Silver Reel and recounting Holmes’ completely unknown adventures during a mysterious and pivotal moment in Holmes’ life, is sure to delight viewers around the world.”
The project is supported by FFF Bayern and the IDM Film Commission. Bluemhuber and Monnard showrun, supported by co-execs Florian Dargel, Alexander Jooss, Fabian Stein, Baptiste Planche, Bettina Alber, Jonathan Ford and Will Stapley. Alen Bulic oversees the project for Silver Reel.
The deal was handled for Sky by Katie Keenan, group director of acquisitions, and Lucy Criddle, director of acquisitions and strategic projects.
Sherlock Holmes has inspired a host of dramas over recent years, ranging from Prime Video’s Young Sherlock to and a Harry King series to David Thewlis-starring Sherlock & Daughter, which airs on The CW and HBO Max.
The detective is also providing inspiration in unscripted, with Banijay UK label Remarkable Entertainment developing a reality competition drawing on the world of Holmes, having signed an exclusive deal with The Arthur Conan Doyle estate.
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