Sherlock season 4 can be last because Cumberbatch, Freeman are too big now

Moffat, the executive producer of the BBC One show, said he was “amazed” that the corporation had managed to secure Cumberbatch, who plays the eponymous detective, and Freeman, his sidekick Doctor Watson, for a fourth series, which is expected to air in early 2017.

Hit British TV drama Sherlock’s creator Steven Moffat thinks that the upcoming season of the hit drama, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, could be the last as its stars have busy Hollywood careers.

A new image for season 4 released by BBC featuring Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock. (BBC)

Moffat, the executive producer of the BBC One show, said he was “amazed” that the corporation had managed to secure Cumberbatch, who plays the eponymous detective, and Freeman, his sidekick Doctor Watson, for a fourth series, which is expected to air in early 2017, reported the Telegraph.

“I don’t know how long we can keep it going. I’m personally willing but I’m hardly the main draw. I would be moderately surprised if this was the last time we ever made this show. But it absolutely could be,” he said.

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Sherlock, a modern day-set interpretation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories about of the famous fictional detective, has become one of the BBC’s most popular programmes, amassing a cult following, and has nominated for six Emmy Awards.

A Victorian-themed special episode, which aired in the New Year, was seen by more than 12 million viewers on BBC One.

“We do have two film stars in the programme. They haven’t needed to do these jobs for a very long time. They’re coming back because they want to.

“I’m amazed that we’ve got this far. I thought that once they had become extremely successful, we would only get to do one more series.

“There’s never going to come a time when we do a longer run, because this is what the series has become. It’s an occasional treat where you get three movies. It’s how it works.”

Read: At least they’ve not forgotten us! Sherlock begins season 4 shoot

Moffat said that if the pair’s schedule became too hectic to commit to future series, the corporation could return to the show years down the line.

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