CBS investigates Sherlock Holmes-inspired medical drama ‘Watson’

Morris Chestnut (Source: CBS/Diondre Jones)

CBS is delving back into the world of literary detective Sherlock Holmes with an order for Watson, a medical drama series starring Morris Chestnut as a contemporary version of Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional doctor.

Set in the modern day, the show picks up a year after the death of Holmes at the hands of his arch-nemesis Moriarty, as Dr John Watson (Chestnut) resumes his medical career as the head of a clinic dedicated to treating rare disorders. However, Watson’s old life isn’t done with him, and he will face his own struggle with Moriarty.

CBS describes the series as a medical show with a “strong investigative spine”, as Watson turns his attention from solving crimes to solving medical mysteries.

Watson is produced by CBS Studios, with its pilot written by Craig Sweeny, who worked on Elementary, CBS’ previous modern update of the Sherlock Holmes stories, which ran for seven seasons from 2012 to 2019 and starred Lucy Liu as Watson, alongside Jonny Lee Miller as Holmes.

Sweeny and Chestnut will exec produce, alongside Shäron Moalem, as well as Aaron Kaplan and Brian Morewitz for Kapital Entertainment. Larry Teng will exec produce and direct the first episode.

“We are thrilled to feature such a beloved character from the world of Sherlock Holmes at the center of this series and have it brought to life by Morris Chestnut in a fresh and unexpected take on the immortal doctor,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment.

“Craig Sweeny’s bold new vision for the complex Dr Watson deftly interweaves rich character storytelling with edge-of-your-seat medical mysteries.”