Entertainment
A Short Guide to the Sherlock Holmes Adaptations Out There Right Now
We live in a world with a whole lot of Sherlock Holmes. Given the cyclical nature of pop culture memory, it's no surprise that one popular Sherlock spawned another, which spawned another. Arthur Conan Doyle's crime stories and sassy detective have been captivating audiences for two centuries, so we'd say they've proven their right to be present in our lives.
It was announced today that another Sherlock would be joining the pack: Ian McKellan will be playing an elderly Holmes in the upcoming adaptation of the novel A Slight Trick of Mind. In celebration we rounded up a few of the more notable Sherlocks of recent memory.
We live in a world with a whole lot of Sherlock Holmes. Given the cyclical nature of pop culture memory, it's no surprise that one popular Sherlock spawned another, which spawned another. Arthur Conan Doyle's crime stories and sassy detective have been captivating audiences for two centuries, so we'd say they've proven their right to be present in our lives.
It was announced today that another Sherlock would be joining the pack: Ian McKellan will be playing an elderly Holmes in the upcoming adaptation of the novel A Slight Trick of Mind. In celebration we rounded up a few of the more notable Sherlocks of recent memory.
BBC's 'Sherlock'
Basically: Modern, British. Some of the best cinematography you'll ever see. Created by Stephen Moffat (Doctor Who) and Mark Gatiss.
Key Actors: Benedict Cumerbatch (Star Trek, August: Osage County, The Fifth Element, just everything) as Sherlock Holmes, Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, The World's End, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, also just everything) as John Watson.
You'll Probably Like It If: You enjoy drop-dead gorgeous cinematography, fast-talking, high-quality acting and directing, and the best portrayal of John Watson in all of human history.
CBS' 'Elementary'
Basically: CBS procedural. Modern. Holmes is still British, everything else is American. The show generated a lot of attention when the creators announced the usually-John Watson would now be Joan Watson, Holmes' sober companion.
Key Actors: Lucy Liu as Joan Watson, Johnny Lee Miller as Holmes
You'll Probably Like It If: You enjoy any/all of CBS's other procedurals or crime shows in general; if you've been wanting a little more of a female presence in your Holmes stories.
'Sherlock Holmes'/'Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows'
Basically: This one's the most aged on here, if only because if doesn't seem as if they'll be making any more of them. Guy Ritchie's take on the Sherlock Holmes stories makes the list, however, only because it hit the Sherlockosphere around the same time as BBC's Sherlock. Also because it was so energetic in its interpretation that we get tired even thinking about certain sequences.
Key Actors: Robert Downey Jr. (he's Iron Man) as Holmes, Jude Law as his Watson.
You'll Like it If: You enjoy the Victorian era and fan-fiction brought to life.
'House, Md.'
Basically: By all rights House shouldn't be on this list. It ended in 2012 and there were no characters named Sherlock or Watson anywhere. Not a Holmes in sight. House was very (very, very) heavily influenced by the Sherlock Holmes canon, however, and we'd wager its success played a role in resurgence of the Victorian detective. He proved that it was possible, in these modern anti-hero times, to love the thoroughly prickly mystery-solver.
Key Actors: Hugh Laurie as Dr. House, Robert Sean Leonard as his Watson proxy Dr. Wilson.
You'll Probably Like It If: You like procedurals, hospital dramas, and watching Hugh Laurie strut his stuff. Also, it's never lupus.
'A Slight Trick of Mind'
Basically: It's an adaptation of the Mitch Cullen book of the same name. Here's the official description of the novel:
“It is 1947, and the long-retired Sherlock Holmes, now 93, lives in a remote Sussex farmhouse with his housekeeper and her young son. He tends to his bees, writes in his journal, and grapples with the diminishing powers of his mind. But in the twilight of his life, as people continue to look to him for answers, Holmes revisits a case that may provide him with answers of his own to questions he didn’t even know he was asking–about life, about love, and about the limits of the mind’s ability to know."
Key Actors: Ian McKellan (Lord of the Rings, X-Men)
You'll Like it If:
Well, we just heard about this one today, so we're not entirely sure. It's probably safe to say you'll like it if you like watching Ian McKellan play sharp grumpy old men.
Honorable Mentions:
These are ones—from that are either current of from the most recent past—that we just can't not mention when talking about modern Sherlock Holmes adaptations, even when their main characters aren't named Sherlock:
Perception
Psych
The Great Mouse Detective
Watson and Holmes (comic book)
(Image via Listal)
