New Sherlock Holmes-Inspired Medical Drama In The Works, But With A Few Twists

A new Sherlock Holmes-inspired medical drama, titled Watson, is in the works. Created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle, the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. John H. Watson have been adapted to the screen countless times over the years. Recent iterations include the 2009 film Sherlock Holmes and its 2011 sequel A Game of Shadows starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law as Holmes and Watson. On television, there is the popular BBC series Sherlock in which Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman play modern versions of Holmes and Watson.

Now, a new medical drama inspired by Sherlock Holmes has received a straight-to-series order from CBS. According to Deadline, the series is titled Watson, and Morris Chestnut has been cast in the titular role, the actor having already played medical doctors in The Resident and Nurse Jackie. Watson will be written by Craig Sweeny, who previously worked on the CBS show Elementary, a contemporary update of Sherlock Holmes starring Jonny Lee Miller, and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson. The President of CBS Entertainment, Amy Reisenbach, shared the following statement on Watson:

We are thrilled to feature such a beloved character from the world of Sherlock Holmes at the center of this series and have it brought to life by Morris Chestnut in a fresh and unexpected take on the immortal doctor. Craig Sweeny’s bold new vision for the complex Dr. Watson deftly interweaves rich character storytelling with edge-of-your-seat medical mysteries.

Watson Promises A New Take On The Iconic Character

With its unique premise, Watson promises a new and interesting take on the iconic character from Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes books. The CBS series takes place during the modern day after the world’s greatest detective was killed by his archenemy, Professor Moriarty. One year after the death of his dear friend and partner, Dr. Watson decides to return to the medical profession by taking charge of a clinic focused on treating rare disorders. However, Watson’s past catches up with him when Moriarty reappears, beginning a new chapter in the tale that has captivated audiences for over a century.

Watson will mostly be a medical drama, but one with a strong investigative spine, as the titular character turns his attention from solving crimes to solving medical mysteries. Despite starting a brand-new chapter, Watson will still pay homage to its source material, since killing off Sherlock Holmes is something that Arthur Conan Doyle originally intended to do in his 1893 short story, The Final Problem, though the author decided to revive him for additional stories. Watson, which is set after Sherlock Holmes’ death, will finally follow through on Arthur Conan Doyle’s idea.

Source: Deadline