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You know how the saying goes,“You can’t have your cake and eat it too.”Well, it seems Benedict Cumberbatch is trying to rewrite that old rule when it comes to his iconic role as Sherlock Holmes. While his fans might yearn for another round of mystery-solving alongside Martin Freeman’s John Watson, Cumberbatch isn’t exactly jumping at the chance to return to the beloved BBC series.
In fact, he has put a price on it!
Cumberbatch, who shot to superstardom whenSherlockaired back in 2010, redefined the classic detective for a new generation, creating a character that was as quirky and intellectual as he was enigmatic. His interpretation of Holmes wasn’t just a hit with fans—it became a cultural milestone.
But the question remains: what will it take for him to come back to Baker Street? It turns out, there are two conditions: a massive paycheck, and a guarantee that the next season or movie would be better than anything we’ve seen before.
From stage to Sherlock: Benedict Cumberbatch’s evolution
Before he was the beloved, eccentric detective on our screens,Benedict Cumberbatchwas already carving out his path in the theater world. With a resume that includes playingHamletand performing inHedda Gabler, it’s no surprise that the actor had a somewhat hard time adjusting to the fame that came with his modern-day Sherlock. After all, acting in high-profile films like the Marvel franchise wasn’t something that came naturally to him at first.
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ButRobert Downey Jr.—a fellow Sherlock Holmes portrayer—helped ease him into the world of blockbuster filmmaking.
“We had a gas about being the two Sherlocks on set,”Cumberbatch shared in a conversation withVariety, recalling the playful banter he had with Downey Jr. during their time in theAvengersfilms. It wasn’t just about sharing the same character—there was an undeniable camaraderie. In fact, the pair shared moments of true meta-humor.
Cumberbatch recalled:
But there was some line of dialogue where someone turns to us and says, ‘No s**t, Sherlock.’ Well, we took out all that meta stuff. We just said, ‘No, no, no. Better to leave that for the fan fiction.’
That playful approach, mixing in a bit of humor with a serious on-screen presence, became a signature part of his career. Cumberbatch also confessed that he’s been left scratching his head over the attention he received after embodying Sherlock Holmes. He remarked,“I’m not Brad, I’m not Leonardo, I’m not a typical movie star,”clearly perplexed at how hisrole transformed him into an s*x symbol.
Benedict Cumberbatch’s conditions for returning as Sherlock: A hefty paycheck & perfected plot
But when it comes to revisitingSherlock, Benedict Cumberbatch’s requirements are crystal clear. For one, he’d want a hefty paycheck. But that’s not the only thing that would sway his decision. According to him, the return would need to surpass what’s already been done.
“It would take it to be better than it ever was,”he said, adding that when you leave people wanting more, you’ve done something right.
You leave them or yourselves wanting more. There’s always that itch to scratch, but I think it would have to be the superlative version of what we’ve already achieved.
Fans would certainly agree—Sherlockhas set such a high bar that any new installment would need to match, if not exceed, the previous quality. While the offer to return toSherlockstill hovers like a distant dream, Cumberbatch is already venturing into exciting new territories.
The actor is keen on taking on projects outside of theDoctor StrangeandSherlock Holmestypecast. He’s hungry for more diverse roles, especially in the realm of European cinema—a shift that allows him to push his creative boundaries even further.
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“The flavor of work that I want to lean towards is a slightly European sort of world cinema,” he said, a nod to the fact that his work in superhero films has, in some ways, narrowed the kind of roles he’s considered for. It’s a struggle for any actor who has a reputation for playing larger-than-life characters—it can be tough to break free of the box people put you in.
But Cumberbatch is determined to carve a new niche for himself, seeking out work that’s closer to his heart. And that’s where the magic lies!
Sherlockis currently streaming on Hulu.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
