Morris Chestnut, who headlines the new CBS proceduralWatsonas Dr. John Watson, explains what fans can expect when it comes to Moriarty, the iconic Sherlock Holmes villain.Watsontakes place in modern-day Pittburgh and centers around Dr. John Watson’s medical investigation perspective, tackling the case after Moriarty has killed Sherlock Holmes.Watsonis due for releaseon July 05, 2025.
Addressing whether Moriarty will be inWatson,Chestnut toldDeadlinethat the villain is “a very challenging nemesis to dispose of.” With his terrible intent, he’s “hard to get rid of.” While the actor can’t reveal much more detail about Moriarty’s involvement in the show,the actor confirmed that Moriarty will play a role in the story, whether big or small: “he pops up.” Check out what he said,
I will say this: Moriarty is the nemesis and is a very challenging nemesis to dispose of. When you have someone with that type of intent and that’s hard to get rid of, he pops up, you know.
What Morris Chestnut’s Comment Means For Watson
Moriarty Will Be Part of the Story
Chestnut’s comments confirm Moriarty would appear on the show. It’s unclear whether the professor’s involvement will be by mention or physical appearance. The events inWatsontake place six months after Moriarty’s crime, giving a fresh look at John Watson’s state of mind as he navigates life after his partnerSherlock Holmes' death.
The Real-Life Figure Sherlock Holmes Is Based On: True Story Explained
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s character, Sherlock Holmes is a detective based on a real-life figure who used methods of deduction at work, Dr. Joseph Bell.
Chestnut’s comment about Moriarty’s intent also seems to indicate thateven if John Watson didn’t come after the iconic villain, the evil professor would find a way to show up. WhileWatsontackles crime-solving from the title character’s perspective as he opens a clinic to treat rare diseases and seemingly derives from Sherlock Holmes' plot, the show can’t really shake off the past or Moriarty.Watsonis only one of the upcoming shows adapting theSherlock Holmescharacter, with another one beingYoung Sherlock.At the same time, there has been talk of another season of the Benedict Cumberbatch-ledSherlockseries.
Our Take on Watson
Moriarty Would Make Watson Much More Interesting
Will Moriarty be the antagonist inWatson?With CBS’s new procedural being separate fromother Sherlock Holmes entries, the answer is currently unknown. There are many mysteries about the upcoming show, with one being that it’s set six months after Sherlock Holmes' death. Where Watson is during his grieving cycle would be something interesting for audiences to see, and how he’s approaching his partner’s death would bring the topic back to Moriaty. Whether the professor will make an appearance inWatson,Moriarty is already in the story, being the backdrop that sets the tone of Watson’s medical show.
Certainly, it’d be interesting to see how Watson would fight against this iconic villain as a medical investigator without Holmes. Moriarty, as a villain with the worst intent toward Sherlock Holmes and his associate, isn’t likely to stop at Holmes. There are so many questionsWatsonneeds to answer, and Moriarty’s involvement in the story would certainly make things even more interesting.
