Guy Ritchie’s Young Sherlock Brings a Fresh Mystery to Prime Video — and Offers Something Different From The Gentlemen

Guy Ritchie has spent much of his career exploring eccentric criminals, elaborate schemes and chaotic power struggles. His Netflix series The Gentlemen brings all those familiar ingredients together in an entertaining crime comedy. But with Young Sherlock, the filmmaker takes a different direction — and delivers a mystery that may be an even more compelling showcase for his storytelling.

Released on Prime Video in 2026, the eight-part series moves away from Britain’s criminal underworld and into the world of Victorian detective fiction. Instead of presenting Sherlock Holmes as the brilliant, self-assured investigator audiences already know, it takes viewers back to his younger years, when his intelligence is still developing and his impulsive nature frequently gets him into trouble.

Young Sherlock Reimagines the Detective’s Early Years

Set in 1871, Young Sherlock follows a 19-year-old Sherlock Holmes, played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin, as a student at Oxford University. This is far from the composed consulting detective familiar from Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories. Young Sherlock is reckless, unpredictable and still learning how to use his remarkable intellect.

His life takes a dramatic turn when a murder investigation places him among the prime suspects. Determined to clear his name, he begins investigating the crime and soon discovers that the mystery extends well beyond the university.

During the investigation, Sherlock encounters James Moriarty (Dónal Finn), another unconventional young intellectual. The two form an unexpected partnership, bringing together their intelligence and contrasting personalities as they attempt to uncover the truth.

The series takes inspiration from Andrew Lane’s Young Sherlock Holmes novels, although it does not directly adapt their storylines. Lane’s books portray Sherlock as a 14-year-old schoolboy, while showrunner Matthew Parkhill chose to focus on an older version of the character.

His intention was to explore a period in Sherlock’s life that could plausibly lead towards the detective introduced in Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet. Rather than revisiting familiar cases, the series uses the years before that first novel as an opportunity to create new experiences and develop the character’s origins.

That approach gives Young Sherlock room to distinguish itself from the many adaptations that have already explored the famous detective, from Basil Rathbone’s classic films to Benedict Cumberbatch’s contemporary BBC interpretation.

Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Dónal Finn Bring New Energy to Sherlock and Moriarty

Casting plays an important role in establishing the series’ fresh identity.

Hero Fiennes Tiffin, previously known for portraying young Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, presents Sherlock as a lively, mischievous young man with a talent for picking pockets. His interpretation has considerably more youthful energy than several recent screen versions of the detective.

Dónal Finn, recognised for playing Mat Cauthon in The Wheel of Time, brings a roguish charm to Moriarty. The two actors develop an engaging on-screen partnership, with their chemistry helping to drive the series forward.

One particularly interesting aspect is the decision not to introduce Moriarty as an obvious enemy from the beginning. Instead, the characters are initially allowed to enjoy each other’s company and work together. Audiences familiar with their eventual rivalry can appreciate the added tension beneath their seemingly friendly exchanges.

The supporting cast further expands Sherlock’s world. Natascha McElhone and Joseph Fiennes portray his parents, while Max Irons and Zine Tseng, who plays Princess Shou’an, introduce additional characters into the story. Colin Firth also appears as Sir Bucephalus Hodge.

Why Young Sherlock Offers a Different Experience From The Gentlemen

There’s no denying the appeal of The Gentlemen. The Netflix series features the eccentric personalities, sharp dialogue, intricate criminal plans and sudden violence that have become closely associated with Guy Ritchie’s filmmaking.

Theo James makes Eddie Horniman’s transformation from an unwilling aristocrat into a criminal operator particularly entertaining. Meanwhile, Kaya Scodelario’s confident portrayal of Susie Glass gives the character a commanding presence.

The show’s humour also comes from the unusual collision between Britain’s wealthy upper class and its underground cannabis empire.

However, The Gentlemen largely revisits territory Ritchie has explored throughout his career, including in Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. His understanding of criminal organisations, shifting loyalties and unpredictable power struggles remains a major strength, but viewers familiar with his gangster films will recognise many of the storytelling elements.

Young Sherlock, by comparison, builds its narrative around a more clearly defined mystery. The murder at Oxford provides the central thread connecting all eight episodes, while the conspiracy surrounding the case gradually expands the story beyond the initial investigation.

Rather than relying on familiar crime-comedy formulas, the series combines detective fiction with coming-of-age drama, historical adventure and action-thriller elements. One episode may focus on solving a puzzling crime, while another reveals more about the wider conspiracy.

This mixture gives the show a distinct identity and creates a more varied viewing experience.

Watching Sherlock Become the Detective We Know

Perhaps the biggest difference between the two series lies in the way their central characters develop.

In The Gentlemen, Eddie Horniman is forced to adapt to a dangerous criminal world he never intended to enter. His journey is about learning to survive and operate within an unfamiliar environment.

Sherlock’s story follows a different path. He is not simply adjusting to a new world; he is gradually becoming the person audiences already recognise. At this stage, he has not yet developed the habits, discipline and emotional distance associated with the legendary detective.

The series explores his family connections, youthful impulsiveness and formative experiences, offering a glimpse of how those qualities might eventually shape his investigative methods and detached outlook.

That character development gives Young Sherlock an appeal beyond its central murder mystery. Viewers are not only following the investigation but also discovering how one of literature’s most recognisable detectives came to be.

Should You Watch Young Sherlock?

If you enjoy clever mysteries, Victorian intrigue and stories that explore famous rivalries before they fully take shape, Young Sherlock offers plenty to explore. Its combination of historical adventure, detective work and youthful chaos gives Guy Ritchie an opportunity to experiment with a different kind of storytelling.

Viewers looking for the fully formed, composed Sherlock Holmes may need to adjust their expectations. This version is still impulsive and inexperienced, and the series is as interested in his personal development as it is in solving crimes.

That doesn’t make The Gentlemen any less entertaining. The Netflix drama remains one of the platform’s notable crime series, with Ritchie’s distinctive style evident throughout.

But Young Sherlock demonstrates that the filmmaker is not limited to the criminal underworld he knows so well. By revisiting a familiar literary character from an entirely different stage of life, he delivers a fresh take on detective fiction — and shows that he can still surprise audiences.