Young Sherlock: Matthew Parkhill and Dónal Finn Talk Reinventing Holmes and Moriarty – INTERVIEW

Dónal Finn explores Moriarty’s rise in Guy Ritchie’s Young Sherlock.

Sherlock Holmes has fascinated audiences for more than a century. From classic literature to modern film and television, the brilliant detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle continues to inspire new interpretations.

Now, Young Sherlock explores a chapter that has rarely been seen before.

The new series, directed by visionary filmmaker Guy Ritchie, tells the origin story of the legendary detective. Instead of the confident genius audiences know from Baker Street, the show introduces a rebellious young Holmes who is still discovering his abilities while facing a dangerous conspiracy.

I recently spoke with showrunner Matthew Parkhill and star Dónal Finn about bringing a fresh perspective to one of fiction’s most iconic characters.

Reimagining Sherlock Holmes for a New Generation

Young Sherlock follows a teenage Holmes as he becomes entangled in a murder investigation that threatens his freedom. The case sends him into a globe-spanning conspiracy that forces him to confront powerful enemies and life-changing decisions.

The series features an impressive ensemble cast that includes Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Sherlock Holmes alongside Zine Tseng, Max Irons, Natascha McElhone, Joseph Fiennes, and Colin Firth.

For showrunner Matthew Parkhill, adapting a character with such a long legacy came with both excitement and pressure.

“You feel the weight of all these amazing writers and actors that have gone before you in this material,” Parkhill said. “I read the books as a kid and reread them when I started this journey.”

Parkhill said revisiting the original Sherlock Holmes stories helped him find the creative entry point for the series.

“I was looking for an entry point,” Parkhill explained. “If A Study in Scarlet is the first book, then anything before that becomes a playground.”

That approach allowed the creative team to respect Doyle’s canon while exploring events that may have shaped Holmes long before the world knew his name.

A Rougher, More Human Sherlock

Unlike many versions of Sherlock Holmes, the character in Young Sherlock is still developing his skills. Instead of presenting a fully formed genius, the series highlights a young man who is brilliant but also impulsive and imperfect.

Parkhill believes that approach adds depth to the character.

“Conan Doyle’s Sherlock knows all the answers,” Parkhill said. “He’s the smartest guy in the room. But I think it’s important that our Sherlock wasn’t that. He was rough. He got himself into trouble. He wasn’t polished.”

By showing Holmes earlier in his life, the series reveals how he begins to sharpen the observational skills and logic that later define him.

At the same time, those early experiences introduce him to someone who will shape his destiny in unexpected ways.

That person is James Moriarty.

Dónal Finn on Exploring Moriarty Before Infamy

In the original Sherlock Holmes stories, Moriarty is known as the brilliant criminal mastermind often called the “Napoleon of Crime.” However, Young Sherlock presents him at a very different stage of life.

Actor Dónal Finn said the opportunity to explore Moriarty’s early years made the role especially compelling.

“What excited me about it was that we’re meeting Moriarty at a point in time where really no one has ever seen him,” Finn said. “It’s about tracking the journey of how he arrives at the level of notoriety we know.”

Rather than portraying the infamous villain audiences expect, the series shows Moriarty as a complex young man shaped by difficult circumstances.

“At this point in time, he has a particular way of seeing the world,” Finn said. “And I think it’s justified because things have been hard for him.”

That emotional foundation gives the character a layered perspective as he navigates the choices that will eventually define his future.

When Sherlock Holmes Meets His Equal

One of the most intriguing aspects of Young Sherlock is how it reimagines the relationship between Holmes and Moriarty.

Instead of meeting as rivals from the start, the series explores the possibility that the two characters once shared a connection.

Parkhill described the creative decision as one of the show’s most exciting ideas.

“The big swing we’ve taken is the Moriarty character and the idea that they were once friends,” Parkhill said. “What if Sherlock meets someone early on who is his intellectual equal?”

That concept adds emotional complexity to the legendary rivalry. When two brilliant minds begin on equal footing, their eventual conflict carries deeper meaning.

A Bold New Chapter for Sherlock Holmes

With its mix of action, mystery, and character-driven storytelling, Young Sherlock offers a fresh look at one of the most famous detectives ever created.

The series blends Guy Ritchie’s signature energy with a coming-of-age story about the experiences that shaped Sherlock Holmes into the legend audiences recognize today.

By exploring Holmes and Moriarty before their famous rivalry begins, Young Sherlock invites viewers to witness the moments that will define both men forever.

For longtime fans and newcomers alike, the series delivers a bold new chapter in the enduring world of Sherlock Holmes.

All eight episodes of the the series are now streaming on Prime Video.

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