A new television series focusing on Sherlock Holmes' arch nemesis, Professor James Moriarty, is in development. The project, provisionally titled 'Moriarty', is described as a modern reinvention of the crime procedural, based on the most famous villain in detective fiction.
The series is a collaboration between Freemantle and Archery Pictures. In this adaptation, Moriarty is a Professor of Criminal Psychology at Durham University who leads a double life as the mastermind behind sophisticated crimes in the North of England.
According to the synopsis, when a rival criminal threatens his underground empire, Moriarty joins the police as a consultant. He uses the law to dismantle his foe while keeping his true identity hidden. He is paired with Detective Imogen Burrows, a stoic Yorkshire detective, forming a formidable team.
The casting for the lead role has not been announced. Previous portrayals of Moriarty include Andrew Scott in the BBC's 'Sherlock' and Dónal Finn in the recent 'Young Sherlock' on Prime Video. Other actors such as Ralph Fiennes, Jared Harris, Eric Porter, and Randall Park have also played the character.
Archery founder Kris Thykier said: 'Moriarty will show audiences what it takes to be a criminal genius, combining genre thrills with a playful, dark, and thrilling dive into the psychology of villainy.' The series remains in development with no confirmed platform or release date.
