Toby Jones Playing The Villain in Season 4 of SHERLOCK

TV Toby Jones Sherlock about 8 years agoby Ben Pearson

The Sherlock Christmas special, The Abominable Bride, seemed to draw mixed reactions from a lot of fans, but that doesn't mean we're any less excited to see Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman return to the roles of Sherlock and Watson in the upcoming fourth season (or "series," as the Brits call them) of the hit BBC show. They've been filming for a little while already, and now the network has confirmed that Captain America actor Toby Jones will play a villain in the second episode.

Toby Jones says: “I'm excited and intrigued by the character I shall be playing in Sherlock..."

Co-creator, writer and executive producer Steven Moffat, says: "Delighted to have Toby Jones on board, bringing to life one of Doyle’s finest villains."

Co-creator, writer and executive producer Mark Gatiss adds: "We're thrilled to welcome one of our finest actors to the Sherlock family. I know Toby will embrace the part with true relish!"

Sue Vertue, Executive Producer for Hartswood Films, says: "Great to have [director] Nick Hurran back after his fabulous work in series three [he directed "His Last Vow"], and I've been wanting to work with Toby for ages, so this is a real treat."

So Jones will play one of Doyle's finest villains, but who could that be? The whole Moriarty thing is...complicated at this stage in the story, and Sherlock recently "took care" of season 3's villain (Magnusson). I don't know Doyle's books, so I'm at a loss as to who the new villain could be — unless there's some sort of insane reveal that Jones was actually Moriarty the whole time and Andrew Scott was a bizarre surrogate. I wouldn't put anything past this show. What do you think?

I'll leave you with the synopsis for the fourth season below:

Promising laughter, tears, shocks, surprises and extraordinary cases, it was announced last month that series four will begin - with the nation’s favourite detective, the mercurial Sherlock Holmes, back once more on British soil - as Doctor Watson and his wife, Mary, prepare for their biggest ever challenge - becoming parents for the first time.