Universe sharing seems to be the norm these days thanks to Marvel. However the realm of superheroes isn’t the only place where characters can share the screen and a rumoured crossover by two other widely loved characters has had geeks everywhere frothing at the mouth. Despite the fan-imagining WhoLock getting over 3.1 million views on YouTube and sprouting positive reactions all over the world, the idea of a Doctor Who and Sherlock crossover has been a pipe-dream…until now!
During a Q&A in Cardiff at the premiere of the new series of Doctor Who, show runner Steven Moffat – who is also the co-creator and co-writer of Sherlock – claimed that the possibility of the two shows crossing over had been discussed and that if it was solely up to him, it would eventually happen even if it was just for a one-off special:
“Look I’m going to come clean on this: I would… Go speak to Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Mark Gatiss and Sue Vertue, OK? They’re all in the way. I’m not the killjoy, it’s that lot. It’s probably not going to happen.”
After some groans from the over-enthusiastic crowd:
“I know…What a bunch of killjoys I work with.”
Despite claiming he wanted it to happen, he then went on to state that his “killjoy” work colleagues were probably right:
“You know in some ways, I think Mark [Gatiss] has got a point when he says that however good you imagine [the crossover], it would be almost better in your imagination than it would be if the two grand old egotists actually met. They’d just both go off in opposite corners and sulk that there was someone cleverer than them.”
It’s difficult to decipher if Moffat is just teasing fans or if he is being genuine. To be fair he’s probably a little tired of getting asked the same question over and over again everywhere he goes. Recently the crossover idea is something that has unfortunately almost taken over the hype of both shows entirely. Personally I hope it doesn’t happen, although I wouldn’t totally be against the idea of dropping some easter-eggs in there just for the fans.
Would any of you like to see The Doctor and Sherlock share a screen?
“Deep Breath” premieres on BBC One and in cinemas on August 23.
Gavin Logan – Follow me on Twitter
Originally published August 10, 2014. Updated April 12, 2018.
