Hero Fiennes Tiffin steps into the role of a young Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie’s new Prime Video series, Young Sherlock, bringing to life the origin story of one of Britain‘s most famous detectives. Despite being a lifelong fan of the Sherlock Holmes franchise, the 28-year-old actor chose not to rewatch any previous Sherlock films or series to prepare, relying instead on his deep familiarity with the character and the script.
Deep Roots in Sherlock Fandom Influenced Hero’s Approach
Growing up, Hero was immersed in Sherlock Holmes stories, influenced heavily by his father George Tiffin’s passion for the character, which he also shared with his brother, Titan Fiennes Tiffin. Hero explains that the iconic portrayal by Benedict Cumberbatch in the BBC series Sherlock, which he watched multiple times, left a strong impression on him.
“Me and my brother loved the Guy Ritchie [films], and then the BBC iPlayer one came out. If I close my eyes and imagine Sherlock, I see Benedict Cumberbatch,”
he said.
Although he admires Cumberbatch’s depiction, Hero intentionally avoided revisiting those adaptations before filming. He felt that because he had
“naturally digested so much Sherlock already,”
watching more would be unnecessary. Instead, he concentrated on the fresh narrative the new series was set to explore.
Exploring Sherlock’s Early Years and Character Development
Hero emphasizes that the series focuses on Sherlock’s transformation from an inexperienced youth into the iconic detective fans know. Since viewers are already aware of the character’s future abilities and reputation, the challenge was to find a compelling progression. He explains,
“People know who Sherlock’s going to end up as. So if he’s already an amazing detective, and he can fight and do all the things that he does in Arthur Conan Doyle’s works, it’s not very interesting, and we’re not leaving him anywhere to go.”
This approach creates space to map out a character arc that reveals how Sherlock develops his talents, laying the foundation for the detective’s later greatness.
The Complex Relationship Between Sherlock and Moriarty
The series also delves into the early dynamics between Sherlock and James Moriarty, played by Dónal Finn. Their relationship begins as friendship before evolving into rivalry. Hero finds this aspect especially intriguing, explaining,
“Mapping out all of those journeys was what was kind of interesting about this. He’s friends with Moriarty, but we know they’re not going to be. And he can’t fight, but we know he will eventually.”
He adds that the writers skilfully developed Sherlock’s growth, allowing audiences to understand how he moves from being a non-detective to the brilliant investigator he becomes.
“And you’re thinking, how is he going to be in a situation to be solving mysteries if he’s not a detective yet? And our writers do a great job of facilitating that [arc],”
Hero said.
Pressure and Responsibility in Portraying an Established Icon
Portraying a character as well-known as Sherlock Holmes comes with its own challenges. Hero acknowledges the pressure from fans who have fixed opinions about the detective’s character. He explained,
“If you do a completely new fictional character, people might find it one-dimensional, boring, have bad things to say, but they can’t say you were wrong. But with Sherlock, they almost can.”
Despite this, Hero credits Guy Ritchie’s relaxed and fun approach as a major source of confidence.
“You feel the pressure and responsibility, but especially with Guy, there’s this nature of just having fun as you do it, because he’s having fun and he’s relaxed, and you can tell he doesn’t feel the pressure. I guess he just gave me that confidence,”
he shared.
Hero and Guy Ritchie have collaborated before on The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, which helped establish their creative rapport.
Fun and Adventure Drive the Series’ Atmosphere
When asked to sum up the show, Hero describes it with a simple but meaningful word: fun.
“Whenever people ask me to describe it in one word, I just think this show, but specifically Guy — I want to think of something way more intellectual and interesting and show off a bit of vocabulary, but it’s just fun,”
he explained.
He adds that having fun on set was a key to the production’s positive energy.
“The show, everyone always said, ‘Just have fun and you’ll be all right.’ And me, and Dónal, and the rest of the crew, we definitely did have fun,”
Hero said.
Plot Highlights: A Young Sherlock Faces His First Challenge
Young Sherlock follows the story of a charismatic and defiant adolescent Sherlock Holmes as he encounters James Moriarty and becomes embroiled in a murder investigation that jeopardizes his freedom. According to the official synopsis,
“Sherlock’s first ever case unravels a globe-trotting conspiracy, leading to an explosive showdown that alters the course of his life forever.”
The series is set against the backdrop of Victorian England and includes adventures abroad as it uncovers the early exploits of the boy who will later become the iconic detective of Baker Street.
Supporting Cast and Availability
Alongside Hero and Dónal Finn, the cast features Joseph Fiennes, Hero’s uncle, as well as Zine Tseng, Natascha McElhone, Max Irons, and Colin Firth. Together, they bring depth to the story of Sherlock’s formative years.
Young Sherlock is currently available for streaming on Prime Video, inviting viewers to engage with this fresh take on a timeless character.
