Prime Video has released the first official images from Young Sherlock, a new Guy Ritchie–directed series that reimagines Sherlock Holmes as a 19-year-old investigator at the start of his career.
The period crime drama, led by Hero Fiennes Tiffin as the young Holmes, is set to launch globally on Prime Video in 2026. The series is positioned as a high-energy origin story that returns Ritchie to the world of Sherlock Holmes after his two hit feature films in 2009 and 2011.
A raw Sherlock in 1870s Oxford
Young Sherlock follows Holmes as a disgraced, impulsive 19-year-old student whose freedom is threatened when a brutal murder rocks Oxford University. Drawn into his first major case, he pursues clues from the cloisters of 1870s Oxford to a larger conspiracy that pushes him beyond Britain’s borders. Prime Video describes the show as an “irreverent, action‑laden” origin story that mixes character-driven drama with globe‑trotting mystery, laying the foundations for the legendary detective he will become.
Cast, characters, and creative team
Hero Fiennes Tiffin leads the ensemble as the young Sherlock Holmes, joined by Colin Firth, Joseph Fiennes, Max Irons, Natascha McElhone, Dónal Finn, and Zine Tseng in key roles within Holmes’s family and social circle. Early promotional materials highlight Sherlock’s complicated relationships with his parents and brother Mycroft, as well as international figures who expand the story beyond traditional London‑based cases. Behind the camera, the series is created and written by showrunner Matthew Parkhill, with Guy Ritchie directing and executive producing alongside a team including Simon Kelton, Ivan Atkinson, Simon Maxwell, Dhana Gilbert, Marc Resteghini, Colin Wilson, and others.
Key facts and production details
Produced by Motive Pictures for Amazon MGM Studios, Young Sherlock is planned as an eight‑episode, 60‑minute-per-episode drama series blending crime, mystery, and coming‑of‑age elements. Filming has taken place across the U.K., including Oxford and other period locations chosen to evoke late‑Victorian Britain, tying the prequel visually to Conan Doyle’s classic era while maintaining Ritchie’s modern, kinetic style. The narrative is inspired by Andrew (Andy) Lane’s Young Sherlock Holmes novels but reshapes the material for a contemporary streaming audience, focusing on how one formative case defines Holmes’s future path.
Young Sherlock on Prime Video – At a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Series title | Young Sherlock |
| Platform | Prime Video (global) |
| Release window | 2026 (season 1) |
| Format | 8 episodes, approx. 60 minutes each |
| Genre | Period crime drama, mystery, action |
| Setting | 1870s Oxford and international locations |
| Lead actor | Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Sherlock Holmes |
| Key cast | Colin Firth, Joseph Fiennes, Natascha McElhone, Dónal Finn, Zine Tseng, Max Irons |
| Creator / showrunner | Matthew Parkhill |
| Director / executive producer | Guy Ritchie |
| Based on | Young Sherlock Holmes novels by Andrew (Andy) Lane |
| Main premise | A 19‑year‑old, disgraced Sherlock investigates a murder at Oxford that exposes a far‑reaching conspiracy and shapes his destiny. |
What comes next for Young Sherlock
With first-look images now live, the next milestones are expected to include a teaser trailer and more detailed character reveals as Prime Video builds its 2026 launch campaign. The series gives Ritchie another chance to revisit the Sherlock mythos, this time focusing on mentorship, family dynamics, and the making of a detective rather than an already fully formed genius, which could broaden its appeal beyond core mystery fans. For Prime Video, Young Sherlock strengthens its slate of franchise‑style genre dramas as streamers compete for recognizable IP and long‑term series that can anchor global subscription growth.
