Series 4 News

[sfmpco]

Does anybody know when exactly the wig has been used previously? 

 

I'm not sure if it actually has been used.  It certainly wasn't in S1 or S2, but S3 is in question... of course, his stunt double has to have the same hair, so it's possible the double wears the wigs.

[SherlockedCAMPer]

 

Does anybody know when exactly the wig has been used previously?

I'm not sure if it actually has been used. It certainly wasn't in S1 or S2, but S3 is in question... of course, his stunt double has to have the same hair, so it's possible the double wears the wigs.

I was watching the behind the scenes on the fall Saturday night and the stunt double was moving his hair like it was a wig so I strongly suspect that he indeed wears one.

[Inge l-w]

Dear Carol,

One does not need to memorise the ACD stories to know that like Agincourt, like the French crossbow men, they have shot all their arrows, Valley of Fear is certainly American-based up to a point but has been filmed in several not-Holmes versions, including one with Sean Connery in the central role, Birlstone and Professor Moriarty notwithstanding (the Dear me, Mr Holmes, dear me, Moriarty sends as an sms to Mycroft is in that one) and they cannot very well do The Speckled Band, The Abbey Grange, the Second Stain, the Man with the Twisted Lip, (part of it was used up in HLV) The Norwood Builder, The Retired Colourman, the Copper Beeches, The Engineer's Thumb or any of the Victorian/Edwardian era specific ones.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Maybe not.  But I wouldn't put it past them, given their ability to morph plotlines.  The only story they've officially given up on is "The Five Orange Pips" -- and even so, they used that story's titular plot point in "Great Game."

 

[Inge l-w]

You are definitely a princess among moderators and amphibians!

However, they broke off from ACD canon the moment Mr Moffat ( why does he think he can get away with dyed hair, anyway?) decided to turn Mary Morstan (the not quite legitimate Mrs Watson) into a former Mrs Smith. Once that step was taken, it's a bit like the Dam Busters (OK, history is never good to the losing side, but what the heck!) and everything is up for grabs.

[sittything]

Maybe not.  But I wouldn't put it past them, given their ability to morph plotlines.  The only story they've officially given up on is "The Five Orange Pips" -- and even so, they used that story's titular plot point in "Great Game."

 

I haven't started reading ACD yet, so if you don't mind explaining it to me... why have they officially given up on "The Five Orange Pips?"

[Inge l-w]

Dear Sittything,

In the commentary to the Great Game, Mr Gatiss himself explained that the Five Orange Pips, which he substituted with the Greenwich time pips on the substitute pink phone Moriarty sends as part of his gambit, is a very rarely done story because it's all about former KuKluxKlan adherence. Whoever got the pips knew he was destined to meet his death at the hands of a KKK member, so it is neither politically correct nor particularly relevant to the modernised version.

[Carol the Dabbler]

That too, I suppose, but the reason Mr. Moffat gives is that the mystery depends on the reader not knowing what in the world "KKK" could possibly stand for.  (Hmmm, now let me think.... )

 

 

[Inge l-w]

Dear Carol,

Think about what? That Indiana was not even a state when KKK was started? The British public of the time might have found the conundrum intriguing, which explains ACD's fascination with all things American throughout his stories and novels, but surely not the modern viewers! Here's a for all your long-suffering patience!

[Carol the Dabbler]

The British public of the time might have found the conundrum intriguing, which explains ACD's fascination with all things American throughout his stories and novels, but surely not the modern viewers!

 

Yes, precisely.

[Inge l-w]

There is no uncertainty. Ben and Martin are already locked in for S4. The Byronic hair look is part of who Sherlock is, and it's quite handsome. Maybe it will start a trend. After all, there's a longer version of it in the new POLDARK. They have character arcs to deal with, and I'm sure whatever they come up with will be terrific in the stories.

Dear sfmpco, I know that you are in IMDb and have better insider knowledge: have both male leads signed a binding contract? Have their agents confirmed this news? Otherwise, nothing is locked in place.

[sfmpco]

Moffat already said it - they would not be moving forward with S4 if Ben and Martin weren't totally on board already.  And Amanda Abbington let it slip that they would be filming next spring - so that is the time they are getting everyone's schedules aligned.

 

Not only that, but Moffat just said he had to finish his current season of Doctor Who and then he would start working on the S4 scripts.  They were next on his agenda.

[Inge l-w]

What a romantic you are at heart! Unfortunately, I firmly believe in the Elightenment, science and hard fact over theory, although my favourite characters come from the Anjou/Bourbon inheritance strife, not to mention my absolute hero, Cardinal Richelieu.

If no contracts have been signed, it is nothing more than a gentlemen's agreement! While BC is and will behave like one, likewise MF and Mr. Gatiss, I have already expressed my doubts about the slippery-eel Mr Moffat, whom I don't trust further than I could throw him.

Perhaps hibernation would be a solution, as I think dear besleybean suggested somewhere!

[jadpdr]

If nothing definitive has been publicised by the two male leads' agents or themselves, then nothing is written in stone ( a delightful whydunnit mystery title in the Wexford series, by the way,) so nothing is finalized! What a pity, I was really looking forward to another satisfying series of modern Sherlock before getting bored out of my mind and looking elsewhere for a satisfactory replacement. Anyone here with good reviews on Elementary? I do so not like a female Watson, but needs must when the devil drives!

[Caya]

I think I vaguely remember a rumor of them having signed for S4 and S5 already (wasn't it Lara Pulver who dropped this once?). And I think we can rely on their honoring an agreement. Martin Freeman was, after all, prepared to forego The Hobbit with a heavy heart because he would've had to break contract with Sherlock (back in S1, no less) otherwise - if Peter Jackson hadn't moved his schedule around so he could do both, we would've had another Bilbo (inconceivable ).

[sittything]

People are talking like series 4 and 5 aren't going to happen! Series 4 seems set in stone, and 5 also seems likely to happen. Anything after that is questionable. I dunno about the details of contracts, but I would assume if they're talking about it happening as if it's a sure thing then contracts have probably been signed previously.

[besleybean]

As I understand it, the production team have been given the go ahead for S4 & 5...but the actors won't have signed contracts, I don't think.

[sfmpco]

Expect Sherlock to start shooting once Dr. Strange is done.

[besleybean]

Well yeah, I think that's the general idea!

[sittything]

When is Dr. Strange shooting again?  I thought Amanda tweeted something about early next year for series 4?

[Carol the Dabbler]

I think we can rely on their honoring an agreement. Martin Freeman was, after all, prepared to forego The Hobbit with a heavy heart because he would've had to break contract with Sherlock (back in S1, no less) otherwise - if Peter Jackson hadn't moved his schedule around so he could do both, we would've had another Bilbo (inconceivable ).

 

That was S2, actually, but yes, Mr. Freeman is an honorable gentleman.

 

As I understand it, the production team have been given the go ahead for S4 & 5...but the actors won't have signed contracts, I don't think.

 

It's my impression that the two lead actors had signed agreements in principle before S4 was even given the green light by the BBC.  I believe that's what Mr. Cumberbatch was talking about back in March of 2013 when he said that he and Mr. Freeman "had agreed to do" Series 4 (and the press chose to misinterpret that as BBC approval).  That agreement does not include the filming dates, of course.

 

When is Dr. Strange shooting again?  I thought Amanda tweeted something about early next year for series 4?

 

In early April, she said "round about this time next year," so spring, apparently.

[sfmpco]

Yes, exactly Carol.  There wouldn't even be any way that Moffat would start writing if the boys hadn't been told the carefully planned ideas  and had already agreed to them.  It's all a go.  Just waiting for an actual filming date to be set.  They are all quite excited to do it, but in the meantime they go about their professional lives with other projects.  

 

Acting as a profession, unless you're in a long-running TV series, is nothing but a series of temp jobs, and the vast majority of actors scramble from one temp job to another while trying to keep their passions going. A day of acting work here, a couple of days there... Even at the top of their game, Martin and Ben are both always looking or the next job.  Always.  Fortunately for all the actors in SHERLOCK, a lot of opportunities come their way because of the show.  Even so, they are always looking for the next bit of work. In households where the husband and wife are both actors, it is very hard when one is working and the other is out of work... a lot of strain on the relationship.  You could also be the best actor in the world, but if you're not what the casting director is looking for, you are passed over.  I'm glad I'm not an actor.

[Arcadia]

Expect Sherlock to start shooting once Dr. Strange is done.

Hope it's a short script. :P

[sfmpco]

I actually expect a lot of green screen shooting for Dr. Strange, and it's going to be heavy on the digital special effects.

[SherlockedCAMPer]

 

Expect Sherlock to start shooting once Dr. Strange is done.

Hope it's a short script. :P

 

 

A lot of action/movement and less dialogue could make it go faster potentially...as long as the camera can pick up the movement (think of the issue with the pen toss in TBB where Benedict caught the pen Martin tossed on the first take but the camera didn't catch it and it took another 3 takes before Benedict caught it again).