The deerstalker hat and pipe are nowhere to be found in the first look at Prime Video’s Young Sherlock, but the signature Guy Ritchie adrenaline is present in every frame. The streaming giant has officially dropped the trailer for the eight-episode series, introducing a 19-year-old Sherlock Holmes who is less of a polished consulting detective and more of a “disgraced,” “raw,” and “unfiltered” anarchist. Directed by Ritchie—who famously helmed the Robert Downey Jr. films—this prequel series aims to deconstruct the legend by showing exactly how he became so cynical.
Set in 1870s Oxford, the series stars Hero Fiennes Tiffin as the titular protagonist. Far from the calm intellect of his later years, this version of Sherlock is a university student
who finds himself framed for a murder that threatens his freedom. The official logline teases a fateful encounter: “When a charismatic, youthfully defiant Sherlock Holmes meets none other than James Moriarty, he finds himself dragged into a murder investigation that threatens his liberty.”
This isn’t just a local mystery; the trailer hints at a globe-trotting conspiracy that takes the teen sleuth from the hallowed halls of Oxford to dangerous locales abroad. Dónal Finn (The Wheel of Time) steps into the role of a young James Moriarty, setting the stage for a rivalry that will eventually define detective fiction. According to the show’s description, “Sherlock’s first ever case unravels a globe-trotting conspiracy, leading to an explosive showdown that alters the course of his life forever.”
To ground Ritchie’s stylized, fast-paced vision, the series has assembled a heavyweight supporting cast. In a bit of meta-casting, Hero Fiennes Tiffin is joined by his real-life uncle, Joseph Fiennes, who plays Sherlock’s father, Silas Holmes. Natascha McElhone stars as his mother, Cordelia, while Max Irons takes on the role of Sherlock’s stuffy but formidable older brother, Mycroft. Oscar winner Colin Firth also joins the fray as Sir Bucephalus Hodge, a character shrouded in Victorian mystery.
Showrun by Matthew Parkhill, the series was filmed across the UK and Spain, transforming modern streets into a “vibrant Victorian England.” With Ritchie directing the first two episodes, fans can expect the same “wit and charm” found in his feature films, albeit through the lens of a coming-of-age drama. “Unfolding in a vibrant Victorian England and adventuring abroad, the series will expose the early antics of the anarchic adolescent who is yet to evolve into Baker Street’s most renowned resident,” the production notes conclude.
