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I’m Still Thinking About CBS’ Watson Perfectly Casting Matt Berry As Sherlock Holmes And How The Team ‘Dug Around In The Couch Cushions’ To Get Him

BBG News

In the television lineup of 2025, the universe of Sherlock Holmes made a fresh comeback on CBS through the series titled “Watson,” with Morris Chestnut portraying Dr. John Watson instead of the iconic detective. The show paid tribute to their deceased friend, and James Moriarty emerged as the antagonist in Season 1. Familiar figures like Irene Adler from Arthur Conan Doyle’s original stories also made appearances. However, the unexpected twist was that Sherlock Holmes had been dead since the beginning. Intriguingly, there was an episode where Sherlock Holmes was present… or so it seemed – his voice echoed, and he was portrayed by the talented Matt Berry, only heard but not seen.

If you’re familiar with Matt Berry’s performances, ranging from his work all the way up to “What We Do In The Shadows,” you might concur that he possesses one of the most unique and recognizable British voices in entertainment today. During my conversation with showrunner Craig Sweeny about the Season 1 finale (currently streaming with a Paramount+ subscription), I couldn’t help but ask about the casting decision for Episode 7, featuring an actor with such a distinctive voice. Craig graciously answered:

In the script we created, Watson experienced auditory hallucinations, where he heard Sherlock’s voice due to Moriarty’s actions. Interestingly, during post-production of the episode, we didn’t give much thought to who would voice Sherlock until an editing session when I suggested, “It would be amazing if Matt Berry could do this!” This was because of the same reasons you mentioned.

In the making of “Watson”, Matt Berry wasn’t specifically envisioned when the script was penned or episodes were shot. However, serendipity played its part, as the showrunner put it, making this unexpected casting choice a perfect fit. While Sherlock in live-action would differ significantly, Berry’s voice is indeed the authentic portrayal of Sherlock Holmes’ voice in the “Watson” universe, as stated by the showrunner.

You can recognize him by his unique voice when he plays his role, even though you don’t see his face. It seemed like something that might never be possible, but somehow it was achieved. Kudos to Geoff Hemwall, our post-production supervisor, who managed to find a solution from the couch cushions and made it a reality.

As a film aficionado, I’d like to extend my gratitude to Geoff Hemwell for the delightful surprise that Matt Berry brought to that episode. Despite Watson’s grim situation, hallucinating on the job, Berry was a breath of fresh air. He may not have employed the distinctive rhythm he’s famous for as Laszlo in “What We Do In The Shadows,” but his presence was undeniable. I even inquired from Craig Sweeny if we might witness live-action Sherlock in Watson’s tale for Season 2, to which he only hinted, “There’s a chance.

Watson thrived quite well during the initial season without a live-action Sherlock, as his presence might have overshadowed the early stages of the series. Maybe he’ll make an appearance in later seasons, if there’s enough money found in the sofa cushions to accommodate him!

If you haven’t seen the first season of the series Watson, you can catch up on it now via Paramount+. The storyline is a mix of a continuous plot revolving around Moriarty creating trouble for John and his colleagues, who harbor secrets of their own, and weekly procedural cases focusing on unusual medical mysteries. If you’re fond of medical puzzles on TV or have an interest in Sherlock Holmes tales, this show is worth your time. Since the second season doesn’t return until early 2026, you have ample opportunity to watch it!

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2025-07-01 02:12

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