Sherlock season 5 delayed as creators confirm new Dracula series for BBC

The creators of Sherlock are officially adapting Dracula for the BBC.

As first reported by Variety, Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat are currently working on a fresh version of Bram Stoker's tale. It'll run for three 90-minute instalments and will be broadcast on Netflix outside of the UK.

The series, set in 1897, will revolve around the blood-drinking vampire from Transylvania who targets residents of London.

Speaking about the project, the duo said: “There have always been stories about great evil. What’s special about Dracula is that Bram Stoker gave evil its own hero“ with BBC director of content Charlotte Moore adding: “Genius duo Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss turn their attentions to Dracula for unmissable event television on BBC One.”

Dracula follows on from previous BBC-Netflix collaborations including Troy: Fall of a City and Duty/Shame. The series puts an end to any speculation that Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, will soon return. It aired its latest episode in January 2017.

British actor Freeman, who has just been confirmed to lead new ITV series A Confession, sparked controversy after seeming to claim that Sherlock's immense success around the world has put a strain on his excitement for the series. Following a heated response from co-star Benedict Cumberbatch, he elaborated upon his original point, adding: “My point with was the expectations can be heavy.“