Guy Ritchie is back with a new adventure involving one of the world’s most famous detectives. Young Sherlock, an origin story for Sherlock Holmes, premieres March 4, 2026, on Prime Video. Instead of a weekly rollout, all eight episodes will be released at once for Prime Video subscribers.
Young Sherlock marks Ritchie’s return to the Sherlock Holmes universe. Ritchie directed two feature films involving Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic character. Prime Video’s new detective show introduces audiences to a 19-year-old Sherlock Holmes, an amateur sleuth trying to establish himself as a prominent investigator. Like any effective Sherlock Holmes story, there is a mystery at play, but this one in particular will shape the young investigator’s future going forward.
Young Sherlock explores a different side of the detective
An origin story for Sherlock Holmes
You’d be hard-pressed to find a fictional detective more brilliant than Sherlock Holmes. Created by Doyle, Sherlock is a clever snoop who uses his gifted mind of his to calculate things the normal mind cannot comprehend. Sherlock believes in removing personal beliefs from a case in favor of logic and reasoning. Sherlock is known for his eccentric personality, but being a genius comes with its drawbacks, including his antisocial tendencies and difficulties expressing emotions.
How did Sherlock Holmes come to be this way? That question is at the heart of Young Sherlock, which is based on Andrew Lane’s Young Sherlock Holmes novels. Hero Fiennes Tiffin stars as Sherlock, a 19-year-old troublemaker who, at the time of the series, is more a criminal than a detective. After being arrested in 1871, Sherlock is given a job at Oxford University by his older brother, Mycroft Holmes (Max Irons), as a chance to straighten his life out.
Unfortunately, Sherlock is accused of stealing sacred scrolls from Sir Bucephalus Hodge (Colin Firth). Sherlock is not the only one blamed, as James Moriarty (Dónal Finn) gets roped in for the theft. Fans might recognize Moriarty as Sherlock’s future nemesis, but making him an unlikely ally in Young Sherlock is an innovative look at the character. Thievery eventually takes a backseat to a murder conspiracy, which inspires Sherlock to investigate the issue to clear his name.
Additional cast members include Zine Tseng as Princess Gulun Shou’an, a Chinese princess and scholar; Joseph Fiennes as Silas Holmes, Sherlock’s father; and Natascha McElhone as Cordelia Holmes, Sherlock’s mother.
Guy Ritchie’s DNA is all over the series
Get ready for witty dialogue and quick cuts
Ritchie is a filmmaker with such a distinct style that you could tell it’s his project without reading the credits. Ever since the days of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, Ritchie has been most comfortable directing British crime thrillers and action comedies. It’s these projects where Ritchie’s standout trademarks—quick cuts, snappy dialogue, frenetic pacing, eccentric characters, and breakneck action sequences—shine.
In 2009, Ritchie directed Sherlock Holmes, with Robert Downey Jr. as the titular character and Jude Law as Dr. John Watson. The action-focused movie is a fun ride that helped make Sherlock one of Downey’s signature characters. The movie grossed over $524 million worldwide and spawned the sequel, 2011’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, which also became a hit, earning $543 million worldwide. Though the movies are not connected to the Prime Video show, they share the same DNA and style because of Ritchie’s involvement.
Ritchie is an executive producer on Young Sherlock and directed the first two episodes. However, the entire season embodies the spirit of its director. Young Sherlock features those fast cuts and witty dialogue that Ritchie fans have come to love. The show becomes a globe-trotting adventure, as Sherlock and Moriarty form a dynamic duo that makes you wish they never became bitter enemies.
Young Sherlock is primed for more stories
The show could run for multiple seasons
Young Sherlock is a show that can easily continue for multiple seasons. There are eight Young Sherlock novels, meaning there are more stories to be told in this universe. Tiffin recently told Extra that he would love to play Sherlock again for a second season. Like many shows, a renewal will rely on critical acclaim and viewership.
The first reviews have been mostly positive, with Collider calling Young Sherlock a “unique spin on the iconic detective.” Prime Video has proven that literary adaptations are popular with audiences. Look at the success of Reacher and Cross as prime examples. It’s too early to tell if Young Sherlock will receive a second season. However, I wouldn’t bet against it because of the character’s popularity and Ritchie’s strong following.
Young Sherlock is one of several high-profile shows coming to Prime Video this March. Scarpetta, a Nicole Kidman crime series, premieres on March 11, while Invincible returns for season 4 on March 18.
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