Sky has acquired The Death of Sherlock Holmes, starring Rafe Spall (Under Salt Marsh, Trying) and Deleila Piasko (The Exposure, Transatlantic) as part of its ongoing partnership with Sphere Abacus. The high-end drama explores the missing chapter in the life of the world’s most famous detective, and marks Sky's early investment in the series, produced by Silver Reel, for its 2027 slate of acquired content in the UK and Ireland.

The series begins with one of the most famous moments in literary history: the apparent death of Sherlock Holmes at the Reichenbach Falls.  While the world believes the master detective perished in his final duel with Professor Moriarty, The Death of Sherlock Holmes reveals for the first time what happened during the three mysterious years between his disappearance in 1891 and his return in 1894 – a chapter that Arthur Conan Doyle left untold and which now finds its story.

Set against the majestic and merciless Swiss Alps, the story follows an Englishman found barely alive in an icy mountain stream by local woman Alma and her young son, Franz. When the village doctor is found murdered, villagers turn on the boy – leaving the amnesiac stranger as his only hope. Though the man remembers nothing, flashes of razor-sharp deduction betray a hidden past. As unsettling fragments of memory return, he must confront an unnerving question: who is he really? What starts as an isolated Alpine mystery soon opens into a far-reaching conspiracy that draws the man closer to the truth of his past—and the legendary name he may once have borne.

Created by Claudia Bluemhuber (Fallen), André Küttel (Platzspitzbaby) and Pierre Monnard (Winter Palace), written by Küttel and Simone Schmid (Die Beschatter), and inspired by the iconic characters of Arthur Conan Doyle, the series has started production, with Pierre Monnard and Bluemhuber directing. 

Jonathan Ford, Managing Director of Sphere Abacus says: “Audiences continue to be enthralled by the exploits of Sherlock Holmes.  This new iteration, created by our friends at Silver Reel and recounting Holmes' completely unknown adventures during a mysterious and pivotal moment in Holmes’ life, is sure to delight viewers around the world.” 

Katie Keenan, Group Director of Acquisitions at Sky, said: “We’re excited to come on board this smart new reimagining that opens up an untold chapter in the Sherlock Holmes story—anchored by the return of Rafe Spall to Sky in the leading role. Our partnership with Sphere Abacus continues later this year with the launch of contemporary mystery thriller Yaga, and we’re thrilled that The Death of Sherlock Holmes will join the most talked about show of the year with Season 2 of Heated Rivalry on our slate for 2027”

Following an International Emmy win in 2025 for YA hit Fallen, Silver Reel will produce this Swiss-German-Belgian co-production with SKY Switzerland, SRF, ARD Degeto and Umedia.  The project is supported by FFF Bayern and the IDM Film Commission. Bluemhuber and Monnard showrun, supported by co-execs Florian Dargel, Alexander Jooss, Fabian Stein, Baptiste Planche, Bettina Alber, Jonathan Ford and Will Stapley.  Alen Bulic oversees the project for Silver Reel. The deal was handled for Sky by Katie Keenan, Group Director of Acquisitions, and Lucy Criddle, Director of Acquisitions and Strategic Projects, with Sphere Abacus handling international distribution.

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For more information, please contact: isabella.dilorenzo@sky.uk