The first set photo for Sherlock Season 4 reveals a new cast member and Sherlock’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) potential new partner in (solving) crime. The image, shared by the official Sherlock Twitter account, features Sherlock with a canine companion.
Who is the new character? In the books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes is accompanied by a dog called Toby. It is likely that the bloodhound in the picture is none other than Toby himself.
According to The Telegraph, the canine could be referring to the Conan Doyle short story called ‘The Adventure of The Creeping Man.’ In this story, Holmes looks into the peculiar behavior of a university professor and is accompanied by a dog.
Earlier this year, the BBC announced that Toby Jones would be playing a villain in episode 2, directed by Nick Hurran.
"We're thrilled to welcome one of our finest actors to the Sherlock family," said co-creator Mark Gatiss, who also plays Mycroft Holmes, about Jones joining the show. "I know Toby will embrace the part with true relish!" Co-creator Steven Moffat added: "Delighted to have Toby Jones on board, bringing to life one of Doyle’s finest villains.”
Gatiss and co-creator Steven Moffat issued a press release about Season 4 earlier in April. “Sherlock [season] four—here we go again!” they said. “Whatever else we do, wherever we all go, all roads lead back to Baker Street—and it always feels like coming home. Ghosts of the past are rising in the lives of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson bringing adventure, romance and terror in their wake.”
The most telling part of their statement was the final line: “This is the story we’ve been telling from the beginning. A story about to reach its climax...”
Sherlock Season 4 is slated to debut early 2017.
