Dónal Finn Channels Andrew Scott in Fresh Take on Moriarty for Young Sherlock Series
Amazon Prime Video has launched a bold reinterpretation of the Sherlock Holmes universe with Young Sherlock, featuring an origin story where the legendary detective and his arch-nemesis begin as intellectual equals and university friends. The series stars Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Sherlock Holmes and Dónal Finn as a younger version of Professor James Moriarty, offering a dynamic departure from previous adaptations.
Finding Inspiration in Past Performances
For Dónal Finn, stepping into the role of Moriarty presented a unique challenge: honoring iconic past portrayals while establishing something entirely new. The Irish actor, known for The Wheel of Time, revealed that Andrew Scott's performance as Moriarty in the BBC's Sherlock served as his primary inspiration.
'It's kind of undeniable to be informed by previous iterations,' Finn explained. 'I found Jared Harris and particularly Andrew Scott in the BBC version just informative for being an actor. Andrew Scott and Benedict Cumberbatch, and their willingness to make huge character leaps and decisions, was just so inspiring.'
Finn disclosed that he kept a picture of Andrew Scott on his wall throughout drama school as 'a benchmark of how bold and playful you can be' as a performer.
A Different Moriarty for a Different Era
Creator Matthew Parkhill emphasized that this version presents Moriarty and Sherlock as 'two sides of the same coin' and 'intellectual equals' from their university days. This contrasts sharply with previous adaptations where Moriarty typically appears as an already-established criminal mastermind.
'We meet Jared and Andrew's versions when Moriarty is this Napoleon of crime and properly arrived villain,' Finn noted. 'Meanwhile, my Moriarty, more often called 'James' in the show, is a young man understanding how the world works and reckoning with its unfairness.'
Guy Ritchie's Vision and Directorial Style
The series benefits from Guy Ritchie's direction, with the filmmaker bringing his signature style to the project while evolving from his earlier Sherlock Holmes films starring Robert Downey Jr.
'They're informed tonally in terms of that irreverence and that swagger,' Parkhill explained. 'But also Guy is a different man and a different director than he was all those years ago, so he naturally brings a different part to it.'
Max Irons, who plays Mycroft Holmes, praised Ritchie's fast-paced directing style: 'Normally film sets can be agonizingly slow. Guy [is like]: 'Five, four, three, two, one,' and if you're not ready, you're going. That's quite scary and challenging at first, but very liberating once you adjust.'
New Characters and Creative Freedom
Actress Zine Tseng, who plays Princess Gulun Shou'an, highlighted the creative freedom on set despite the pressure of joining an established franchise. She described how Ritchie and Parkhill collaborated seamlessly, even when presenting her with unexpected material.
'My first day was in the church and Guy threw me this big monologue about the judicial Bible,' Tseng shared. 'Matthew was able to dance along with Guy's knowledge base and they were able to create something in such a short time that all made sense to me.'
Future Possibilities and Character Dynamics
When questioned about potential romantic developments between Sherlock and Moriarty in future seasons, Finn teased: 'He's an easy man to love.' Parkhill added cautiously: 'If this show does well, we're going to carry on. We explore this great Butch Sundance friendship and the boundaries between friendship and love. Sherlock will never have, in his life, another friend like Moriarty.'
The series represents a significant expansion of the Sherlock Holmes canon, offering viewers a fresh perspective on one of literature's most famous rivalries while paying respectful homage to the performances that came before it.
