‘Sherlock’ Season 5 Air Date, Spoilers: Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freemans’s Rift Causing the Series’ Delay?

“Sherlock” season 5 is still not around so the waiting continues. However, should the viewers continue to wait when the show was not even renewed yet? There are several indications that the fifth installment is still coming and there are reasons for its delay as well so, on the whole, there is a big chance that this detective drama is returning to BBC.

Firstly, although there is no news about its renewal, BBC Network has not canceled “Sherlock” season 5 yet. While it is true that it is long delayed, there are few factors that are causing this and one of them is the producers' and actors' availability to work on the show.

On his interview with BBC Radio 2 (via Digital Spy), co-creator Steven Moffat said, “I haven't really thought about it. Mark has been doing other stuff as well, so we haven't sat down and had a proper talk about what we would do with another series."

Moreover, Moffat further revealed to Radio Times in 2017 that if they would like to do “Sherlock” season 5 again, he and Mark Gatiss would have to wait at least two years since their hands are currently full with various projects. Plus, Mark revealed that together with Moffat, they are working on a new BBC show called “Dracula.”

"We’re not going to do Sherlock as we are doing Dracula,” Gatiss told Radio Times. “So it’s not going to happen in the immediate future. Never say never, but no - we don’t have an idea right now."

Aside from this reason for the delay for “Sherlock” season 5 production, there were reports that Martin Freeman (John H. Watson) refused to be in the new installment of the show. He does not want to be part of it anymore because he finds it hard to live up with the viewer’s expectations.

"It's not a thing to be enjoyed, it's a thing of, 'You better f*** do this, that's not fun anymore,” Telegraph quoted him as saying.

Now, this comment further created a problem and it may be another ground why “Sherlock” season 5 could not begin filming. Fans criticized the actor for his comment and co-star Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock Holmes) also expressed his disappointment and called the statement “pathetic.” The expressions of thoughts allegedly led to a rift between Freeman and Cumberbatch that the former does not want to work with the latter anymore.

In any case, there are also indications, “Sherlock” season 5 will still be in production. While details about the show are very scarce, an unlikely source revealed that the fifth sequel is coming soon.

Chris Georgiou, the owner of Speedy's café where the “Sherlock” crew usually hang out when they are taking a break from the previous filming, disclosed that he overheard them discussing the detective drama’s return. This report originally appeared on Time Out and was immediately published in other news outlets.

Mark Gatiss learned about this and refuted the rumor at once. On his social media, he labeled the claim as “utter nonsense.” Then again, while there is still no concrete detail about “Sherlock” season 5’s production, it may really happen soon since it has been two years since the showrunners released their statements about working on another project. Eventually, once the filming begins, the announcement of its air date would come next.