Filming for season four of Benedict Cumberbatch starrer “Sherlock” has started, and the show is being directed by a woman for the first time.
The first of the three feature-length episodes will be directed by Rachel Talalay, who has worked as a director, producer and professor in film and television for more than 25 years, having previously directed “Doctor Who,” “The Flash” and “The Wind in the Willows.”
Talalay’s movie credits include “Tank Girl” for United Artists, “Ghost in the Machine” for 20th Century Fox, “Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare” and upcoming independent film “An Introvert’s Guide to High School.” She holds dual U.S./Canadian citizenship, but is a permanent U.K. resident.
Directors U.K., the association of British film and TV directors, reported in 2014 that 13% of TV drama episodes in the U.K. were directed by women, and last year, Boxed In reported that women comprised 14% of directors of U.S. broadcast network shows.
Season four begins with 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.
Cumberbatch, who plays Sherlock, said he was “genuinely thrilled to be back filming ‘Sherlock’ with all the cast and crew. I can’t wait for everyone to see season four. But you will have to wait… though not for long… And it will be worth it.”
