Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch to join Peter Jackson's The Hobbit!

In what is absolutely AWESOME news, seems that Sherlock himself, actor Benedict Cumberbatch, will be joining the cast of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit!

That’s what Cumberbatch’s co-star, actor Martin Freeman (who plays the younger Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's two-parter prequel to The Lord of the Rings), let slip when the duo picked up the BAFTA award for Best Drama for Sherlock on Sunday.

Freeman then later went on to say: "I knew I was a big mouth, I didn't know how much of a big mouth, and I've ruined everything. And now I might not have a job to go back to!"

Yes, this is awesomely cool news; and now the question on everyone's lips is: which role will Cumberbatch play?

While most of us would think he could very well play an elf (he does have the elvish look about him), Den of Geek has its own theory about just who the Sherlock actor could play. They claim he could be playing a character called Bard the Bowman.

This is the Wikipedia description of the character:

Later known as Bard I, he appears in The Hobbit. Bard of Esgaroth was a skilled archer and the heir of Girion, the last king of old Dale. He was described as "grim faced" and while a guardsman of Esgaroth he was often predicting floods and poisoned fish. He rallied the guards to defend the town when the Dragon came. Bard was able to slay the dragon Smaug with the Black Arrow after a tip from the old thrush (who had overheard Bilbo Baggins' description of Smaug) had revealed an unarmoured spot on the dragon's underside. Bard claimed a fourteenth of the treasure amassed by the dragon, which he subsequently shared with the Master of Esgaroth to rebuild the town, but the Master stole the money and ran off into the wild where he died. After its rebuilding, Bard was the first king (Bard I) of restored Dale, followed by his son Bain, grandson Brand, and great-grandson Bard II.

So what do you think of this news? Are you psyched that Benedict Cumberbatch will join The Hobbit? Or do you think he'll play another character than Bard the Bowman?

(via Digital Spy)

Sherlock's Martin Freeman may play Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit!

Yesterday, a story broke in The Sun that beloved British actor Martin Freeman -- hot off a successful run on BBC's Sherlock as Dr. Watson -- had been in the run to play the lead role in The Hobbit, that the actor had been offered a seven figure deal, and that he sadly had to turn it down because of his commitment to film the second series of Sherlock.

Today, EW reports that the two studios behind Peter Jackson's The Hobbit, Newline and MGM, are still keen on having Freeman, and that they are prepared to work around his shooting schedule to accommodate him. Apparently, all parties are currently negotiating a deal.

If this is true -- and it actually pans out -- I think that the studio is making the right choice in choosing Martin Freeman to play the iconic role of Bilbo Baggins. Not only does Freeman look like a younger Ian Holm, who played an older Bilbo in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but he is also an excellent actor. Freeman, who is widely known as Tim Canterbury from the original UK version of The Office, also starred in another sci-fi classic: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

So what do you think? Do you see Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins? Do you think he could make a decent job of it? Chime in!

BBC Confirms 'Sherlock' is Back for Series 2!

Yesterday came the best news ever: BBC controller Jay Hunt announced the return of Sherlock for a second series of three 90-minutes episodes for next year. However, viewers will have to wait patiently until the Fall of 2011 to view the further adventures of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson.

The series, strong of it's success both with critics and the public - the show averaged 7.2m viewers over the three Sherlock episodes: A Study in Pink, The Blind Banker and The Great Game) - recently ended it's run in the UK and will soon air here in North America starting October 24th on PBS Masterpiece Mystery.

Benedict Cumberbatch will return in the role of Sherlock Holmes, as will Martin Freeman in the role of his friend and colleague Dr. John Watson. Both actors were largely responsible for the success of the series due to their great on-screen chemistry.

Of series 2, co-creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss had this to say:

"We've been overwhelmed by the warmth of response to our new Sherlock Holmes and John Watson and can't wait to take them on three new adventures next year. There'll be baffling new puzzles, old friends and new enemies – whether on two, or four legs. And we might well be seeing the cold master of logic and reason unexpectedly falling. But in love? Or over a precipice? Who can tell?"

Already the mind is whirling with the possibilities - maybe Irene Adler will make an appearance in an episode? and the four-legged enemy may be foreshadowing a modern adaptation of The Hound of the Baskerville? All of this is very exciting conjecture.

Next year has never seemed so far away.

[BBC Press Office]

'Sherlock' Star Benedict Cumberbatch Not offered 'Doctor Who' Role after all?

British actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who just finished a first and very successful run as Sherlock Holmes in the Steven Moffat - Mark Gatiss co-created BBC series Sherlock (series 2 has been confirmed last week), made some very interesting revelations in regards to the Doctor Who role.

Talking to the Sunday Times, the 34 year old actor revealed that he never turned down the role of the Doctor simply because he never was offered a shot at the Tardis contrarily to what was previously reported here.

Even if he had been offered the role, Cumberbatch says he would have refused it :

“I’d turn it down anyway. Jumping onto school stages and giving out prizes and saying ‘I am the Doctor’, it’s not where I want to go.”

[Sunday Times]

For those of you who were still holding out hope that the actor could still play the Doctor when current Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith chose to quit the role, time is to face the fact that Cumberbatch will never be the Doctor.

Still, it doesn't rule out the rumour that he is set to appear in an undisclosed amount of Doctor Who episodes in a guest stint for series 6 (you can read the original post here). Maybe Cumberbatch will be playing the mysterious villain we heard in the Tardis in the penultimate episode of Series 5, The Pandorica Opens, rumoured to be Omega?

Whether he does or not, it looks like the future is shining brightly for Benedict Cumberbatch who has just won the part of Peter Guillam, George Smiley's (Gary Oldman, Batman Begins ) MI6 protégé, in the remake of the movie Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by Swedish director Tomas Alfredson that will come out in 2012; and he will soon start filming on the Steven Spielberg war movie War Horse about Michael Morpurgo’s story of the Devonshire farm horse taken to France in the first world war.

What do you think? Are you disappointed that Cumberbatch was not offered the role of the Doctor after all?

'Sherlock' Coming to North America on October 24th!

I've been talking a lot about Sherlock these past few weeks, putting up pictures and some video interviews. Now I have some good news for my North American readers.

You will be happy to know that Sherlock is finally coming to PBS Masterpiece Mystery with the first episode, A Study in Pink, set to air on October 24th.

Episodes two and three, The Blind Banker and The Great Game, will follow on October 31 and November 7 respectively.

Co-created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, Sherlock is a modern re-imagining of the adventures of the popular Sir Arthur Conan Doyle detective hero, Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch), and his ever faithful sidekick Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman).

[PBS]

Elementary my Dear Watson! 'Sherlock' is returning for a second Series!

Good news everyone! Sherlock Series 2 is a go!

According to Sherlock producer, Sue Vertue, the show will indeed return for a second series.

This is good and perhaps not so unexpected news, following the critical and popular success of the BBC One series.

Vertue, who appeared on BBC Breakfast alongside her husband and show co-creator Steven Moffat, revealed that an agreement has already been made with the BBC :

There will be more.We're having a meeting, just to sort of talk about how many and when really. Steven and Mark [Gatiss] are both busy. Obviously Steven is doing Doctor Who as well so it's just when we are going to do them.

The sad news is that the BBC head of drama, Ben Stephenson, recently said that any new episodes of the show will not air for "at least a year".

I say leave Doctor Who into capable hands and do the second series of Sherlock now Steven!

Sherlock's last episode, The Great Game, ended the series' three-episode run last Sunday night in the UK and was watched by 7.3 million viewers.

[Digital Spy]

'Sherlock' - Coming Up? - Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss BBC Video Interview

'Sherlock' - Who is Sherlock Holmes? - Martin Freeman BBC Video Interview

'Sherlock' - The Sherlock Scripts - Benedict Cumberbatch BBC Video Interview

New Pics for 'Sherlock' Episode 3 'The Great Game'

The Great Game is the last episode of the new BBC series Sherlock by Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat and Doctor Who writer and actor Mark Gatiss.

As I mentioned a few days ago here, in the wake of very good ratings and positive reviews the BBC now seems keen for more episodes so The Great Game certainly wont be the last. Still, it will be a long wait for us in the meanwhile.

Enjoy the pics!

[Den of Geek]

'Sherlock' - Martin Freeman Talks 221b Baker Street - BBC One Video Interview

'Sherlock' - Benedict Cumberbatch Talks Sherlock and Watson - BBC One Video Interview

'Sherlock' - Who is John Watson - Martin Freeman BBC One Video Interview

'Sherlock' - Benedict Cumberbatch Talks Updating Sherlock - BBC One Video Interview

'Sherlock' Pics and Episode Synopsis for 'The Great Game'

Click on the read more link for BBC's Sherlock: The Great Game Episode Synopsis:

A strange clue in an empty room, a blood-soaked car, a priceless Old Master, a deranged bomber. With the clock ticking, the curtain rises on a battle of wits between Sherlock, John and the shadowy stranger who seems to know all the answers...

[BBC Sherlock]

Could the shadowy stranger possibly be Holme's greatest enemy, Professor Moriarty? I'm thinking yes, it will be him; but as to whether or not we'll get to see Sherlock's nemesis this season, I'm not sure. I'm guessing Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss will keep him for upcoming seasons that the BBC now really wants.

The last episode of the fantastic Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss series Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman will air this Sunday on BBC One and BBC HD at 9pm.

Steven Moffat Talks Writing For Series 6 of 'Doctor Who'

Steven Moffat recently gave an interview to Den of Geek, hot on the heels of his new series Sherlock's success; but the showrunner had the time to talk about a few things concerning his writing on the upcoming series 6 of Doctor Who.

Moffat made it clear that despite his very heavy workload, the Doctor Who showrunner confirmed that not only he wrote the Christmas episode, but that he will be writing five of the thirteen episodes of series 6. Just like he did for series 5:

''I’m doing the Christmas special plus five, so it’s the same. Six again.''

Steven Moffat admitted that he is following former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies' writing rhythm:

''I’m basically following what Russell did. Having worked out the sums and worked out how he does it, I thought that’s a perfect way of doing it.''

Moffat further adds that:

''But there is a no way of balancing this. The last year has been extraordinary. I’ve had about four days off, and that includes Christmas day. I work every weekend, I get up early in the morning, I go to bed late at night. There is no way of balancing it.

It’s extraordinary, but it’s great fun too! Great fun, so long as it doesn’t kill me.''

Steven Moffat also admits that since writing for Doctor Who, he now conciously writes episodes with ''widescreen viewing'' in mind:

''Probably since I got involved in any capacity in Doctor Who, which has the power of a big picture. And I tend to plot Doctor Who in terms of big pictures, so there’s that. And we can do big pictures really, really well now on television.

So, yeah, I think I probably do. I think anyway television has become a lot more cinematic because it is possible for it to be. Think how far we’ve come from a multi-camera studio. So, yes, you suppose you do. You think ‘that’ll look cool’.

The Doctor Who Christmas episode is now currently being filmed but no word as of yet as to when filming will commence on series 6.

Please go here to read the rest of this very interesting interview, in which Steven Moffat talks more about Sherlock.

Take a Look at These Brand New Steven Moffat's 'Sherlock' Stills!

These new glorious stills from the BBC One TV series Sherlock are from IGN (obviously).

Just click on them to make them bigger and enjoy!

The Doctor and Sherlock Holmes Are a Perfect Fictional Team

This is what Martin Freeman (The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy), who plays John Watson on Steven Moffat's new hit show Sherlock, thinks.

The British actor told What's on TV:

"I don't feel as passionate about Doctor Who as Stephen does, but I've enjoyed watching it more since being a father.

"We met Matt Smith while filming Sherlock in Cardiff because the Baker Street set is next to the [Who] set. It was strange seeing Sherlock Holmes and The Doctor together. They are the perfect fictional team."

Sherlock's first episode, A Study in Pink, garnered an impressive audience of 7.5 million viewers.

The next episode, The Blind Banker, airs this Sunday on BBC One at 8h30pm.

[Digital Spy]

'Sherlock' Star Turned Down Role of the Doctor on 'Doctor Who'

Sherlock star, actor Benedict Cumberbatch, has revealed that he turned down the role of the Doctor on Doctor Who.

The Sun claims that Cumberbatch, who is getting rave reviews for is role of Sherlock Holmes in the re-invented series from showrunner guru Steven Moffat, was offered the iconic role when former Tenth Doctor, Scottish actor David Tennant, decided to leave the Tardis behind.

But before deciding to turn down the role, the 34 year old actor revealed that he had a discussion with Tennant about playing the iconic character and what it would entail :

"David and I talked about it but I thought it would have to be radically different. And anyway I didn't really like the whole package - being on school lunchboxes."

So instead of setting up shop in the tardis, so to speak, Cumberbatch settled for Baker Street instead.

Most recently, Cumberbatch hinted at a possible Doctor Who appearance in the future. As to what, when and who is up in the air.

Take note that The Sun still claims that Matt Smith will leave Doctor Who after the next series (which would be series 6) - which I seriously hope won't happen.

Smith is absolutely terrific as the Eleventh Doctor and I've grown to like him a lot, just like Cumberbatch is a terrific Sherlock Holmes.

Essentially, I believe the right actors got the right parts.

And also, Smith signed a three year contract with the series so unless the actor really badly wants out of the role, I doubt it will happen.

Source

'Sherlock' Star Benedict Cumberbatch Hints 'Doctor Who' Role?

Benedict Cumberbatch, who is currently starring as the modern re-imagined version of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes in the Steven Moffat/ Mark Gatiss BBC drama Sherlock, has hinted to Digital Spy that he may be appearing in more than one episodes of Doctor Who in the future.

Cumberbatch confesses that he is a huge fan of the Sci-Fi series, and that one episode would not be enough for him.

Cumberbatch says that "maybe" he would love to play the Doctor in the future; that or plans are at work for him to appear in more than one episode in the upcoming series. The actor remained very cryptic about it, though at the same time stressing that he wouldn't appear in just one episode.

Click to play the video below to hear what Cumberbatch is saying.



[Digital Spy]

Is it just small talk, wishful thinking, or something more concrete? I'd love to hear what you guys think of this.