‘Sherlock’ Season 4 Air Date, News & Update: Benedict Cumberbatch As Holmes To Discover James Moriarty, Sherrinford Link?

"Sherlock Season 4" on BBC will take Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) and John Watson (Martin Freeman) on a dark maze, which reportedly links James Moriarty (Andrew Scott) and the third Holmes brother Sherrinford. Citing revelations by executive producers Sue Vertue and Steven Moffat with actor-writer Mark Gatiss (Mycroft Holmes) at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con on Sherrinford, "Sherlock Season 4" may reveal a darker truth about Moriarty and the third Holmes brother.

"Sherlock Season 4" has a gamut of news attached to it, including Benedict Cumberbatch retiring his BBC series run as Holmes after S4, Mary Watson turning rogue and Martin Freeman finding John grieving for his 221B Baker Street flat mate. Nerdist, however, dug into the sinister nature of why John Watson appeared with white hair in the recent "Sherlock Season 4" poster and looking at a different direction from Benedict Cumberbatch.

The boys will be back soon! Here’s the first official picture of #Sherlock and John from Series 4. pic.twitter.com/MqGfuUWb96

— Sherlock (@Sherlock221B) August 31, 2016

  Certainly the "Sherlock" series has a reputation for peppering each aspect of the BBC program with Easter eggs and the Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman poster of Holmes and John Watson is no exception. Nerdist points out that Martin Freeman posing John Watson with white hair and hidden ring finger are not a fashion statement but propose dire tidings for "Sherlock Season 4."

A final tease from Comic-Con for Season 4. Three names. What could they mean? #Sherlock #SDCC #SDCC2016 pic.twitter.com/TPs4B3QcNH — Sherlock (@Sherlock221B) July 24, 2016

Nerdist also suggests that James Moriarty may indeed figure strongly in "Sherlock Season 4" and may be playing more mind games with Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes by figuring as Sherrinford. The third Holmes brother Sherrinford is not part of the Sherlock Holmes canon by Arthur Conan Doyle but is accepted all the same by most fans.

Collider did quote Benedict Cumberbatch in describing "Sherlock Season 4" to fans of the BBC series to have such darkness that one won't even be able to see ahead. The BBC can't get much darker than James Moriarty tormenting Sherlock Holmes and John Watson as Sherrinford, if Nerdist's theory proves sound.

Fans of the BBC series would know for sure when the "Sherlock Season 4" premiere airs on New Year 2017. Have you found other clues that link James Moriarty and Sherrinford Holmes in "Sherlock Season 4?"