The Napoleon of Crime Returns: Fremantle and Archery Pictures Develop ‘Moriarty’ Series

The landscape of Sherlock Holmes adaptations is shifting away from the detective and toward his most formidable intellectual match. Fremantle and Archery Pictures, the production powerhouse behind the acclaimed Operation Mincemeat, have officially announced a new crime procedural titled Moriarty, placing the iconic villain at the center of the narrative.

This upcoming project marks a significant departure from traditional Arthur Conan Doyle adaptations, opting for a psychological thriller approach that trades the deerstalker cap for the complex machinations of a criminal mastermind operating in modern-day Northern England.

A New Twist on a Classic Villain

The series, penned by writers Chris Cornwell (Strike Back, A Discovery of Witches) and Oliver Lansley (Flack, Where’s Wanda?), reimagines Professor James Moriarty not as a purely malevolent force, but as a dual-natured protagonist. In this version, Moriarty serves as a Professor of Criminal Psychology at Durham University by day, while orchestrating sophisticated criminal enterprises by night.

The central conflict arises when a rival criminal faction threatens to dismantle his carefully constructed underground empire. To neutralize the threat, Moriarty is forced into an uneasy alliance with the law. He joins forces with Detective Imogen Burrows, a stoic investigator from Yorkshire. The resulting dynamic promises a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, where Moriarty must weaponize the legal system to eliminate his competition without exposing his own criminal identity to his new partner.

Key Takeaways: Moriarty’s Shift to the Spotlight

• A Character-Driven Procedural: The series moves beyond mystery-solving, focusing on the psychological tension of a mastermind forced to work within the law.
• Creative Pedigree: With the involvement of Fremantle and Archery Pictures, the series aims for the high production values associated with prestige British drama.
• Expanding the Holmes Universe: This announcement continues a recent trend of “Sherlock-adjacent” content, following the success of Amazon’s Young Sherlock and other recent genre entries.

The Evolution of the Moriarty Archetype

The character of James Moriarty has long been a staple of pop culture, evolving from a brief mention in Conan Doyle’s The Final Problem to a titan of television, and film. From Andrew Scott’s chilling, manic performance in the BBC’s Sherlock to Jared Harris’s calculating turn in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, the role has consistently attracted high-caliber talent.

Most recently, audiences saw a nuanced portrayal of a younger Moriarty in Amazon’s Young Sherlock, played by Dónal Finn. That performance was widely praised for grounding the character’s brilliance in a relatable, albeit dark, origin story. As the television industry continues to explore the “villain-protagonist” trope—seen in hits like You or Hannibal—this new procedural seems poised to capture that same dark fascination.

FAQ: What to Expect from the Upcoming Series

When will the series be released?

As of now, the project is in active development. No release date or filming schedule has been confirmed by Fremantle or Archery Pictures.

Who will be cast as Professor Moriarty?

Casting news has not been announced. Given the character’s intellectual depth, industry insiders expect a search for an actor capable of balancing academic gravitas with a menacing edge.

Is this connected to other existing Sherlock Holmes series?

No, this series is a standalone project. It is separate from other recent adaptations, such as the CBS or Amazon iterations of the Holmes mythos.

Looking Ahead

The decision to pivot to Moriarty as the lead character reflects a broader industry trend of deconstructing established icons. By placing the “Napoleon of Crime” in a procedural format, the creators are betting that audiences are ready to root for the villain—or at least watch him outsmart the system. With the production team’s track record for sharp, character-driven storytelling, Moriarty is likely to be one of the most anticipated projects for fans of the genre in the coming years.