‘Sherlock’ season 5 renewed or canceled: What Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch say about coming back to Baker Street

Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat’s take on the Sherlock Holmes detective stories is probably one of the most successful adaptations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic literary series. However, it is taking its longest hiatus yet since its debut in 2010 with “Sherlock” season 5 still missing after over three years since the latest installment was released.

Fans also have a bigger problem than the series’ long break, and that is the fact that “Sherlock” season 5 has yet to be ordered. All is not lost, though, since the series creators, as well as lead actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, have expressed they would not miss out on the opportunity to continue the show.

‘Sherlock’ season 5: Cast members are not closing doors for show’s return

The time that has elapsed without any solid updates on “Sherlock” season 5 understandably makes some fans doubt if it could still happen in the future. The good thing is that the people attached to the series have been generally positive when asked about going back to the series.

Freeman, who plays Dr. John Watson, previously told Collider, “If it’s something really special, and if it’s something really meaty and interesting, then I think we’d all be open to that.” Andrew Scott practically has the same sentiment when asked about reprising his role as Jim Moriarty in “Sherlock” season 5. Scott told Digital Spy that he is not closing his doors on the series, but suggested that the production of the fifth installment might not take place anytime soon.

Cumberbatch has also been optimistic about returning as Sherlock in the future and even denied rumors that “Sherlock” season 5 has been canceled. A few months before the fourth season premiered, the “Doctor Strange” actor told Associated Press that the show is not really over yet.

‘Sherlock’ season 5: Should fans still expect the next installment to be released?

In the same interview, however, Cumberbatch also hinted that the production timeline of the series -- with “Sherlock” season 5 in mind -- will not be the same. What he likely meant was that the series will no longer adhere to its usual two-year gaps, and it is pretty much what’s happening right now.

After three years, there is still no announcement about the renewal or cancellation of “Sherlock” season 5. It also does not seem like there going to be any update in the near future considering Cumberbatch would be busy filming for the second “Doctor Strange” movie for Marvel that is scheduled to premiere on May 7, 2021.