Benedict Cumberbatch criticises Martin Freeman over Sherlock fans
When co-stars don' see eye to eye....
- Published by David Knox
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Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch has taken aim at his co-star Martin Freeman recently for comments around fan obsession with the show.
Freeman, who plays assistant Dr Watson, had previously described his unhappiness with the fan attention the show generates.
When asked about a possible fifth series last month, he said people’s expectations are “not fun any more”.
“It’s a thing of: ‘You better f***ing do this, otherwise, you’re a c***.’ That’s not fun anymore.”
He added: “It’s not a thing to be enjoyed.”
But in an interview with The Telegraph, Cumberbatch said: “It’s pretty pathetic if that’s all it takes to let you not want to take a grip of your reality. What, because of expectations? I don’t know. I don’t necessarily agree with that … There’s a level of obsession where [the franchise] becomes [the fans’] even though we’re the ones making it. But I just don’t feel affected by that in the same way, I have to say.”
Whilst there are no plans for a fifth season, co-creator Steven Moffat has said, “We all love our show. And we’d love to come back and do a future show some day. We’re not doing it right now. I have done nothing but Doctor Who and Sherlock for around 10 years, so I’ve got to be allowed to do something else.”
He added: “Benedict is very keen to play it again. At some point, it’ll come back.”
Source: The Mirror
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3 Responses
Both hugely talented actors but simply different personalities. Cumberbatch seems to be a crowd pleaser type who dutifully embraces the additional burden of fandom, while Freeman is more of an unfiltered straight talker. While not a huge Sherlock fan, I have enjoyed both in other roles immensely. Melrose looks stunning and seems to have critics overseas in a frenzy of anticipation and I really enjoyed Fargo. Room for both to shine.
On the one hand, the sort of Vocal Squeeing Fandom that the internet brings really is a problem. Even casual critical discussion is difficult when “fans” start swarming the minute someone suggests a book/show/movie is less than perfect, and the less said about happens when fandom takes over the reigns (e.g. NuWho, Sherlock, etc) the better.
On the other hand, Sherlock Holmes fandom has been around for like 120 years – ACD himself despaired at it! – so it should hardly have come as any sort of surprise to them.
(And the cynic in me wonders if it’s not all a bit of a ploy to keep the fans fired up for when Moffat & Co. decide to make more episodes…)
I think Benedict Cumberbatch knows his fan base and who puts the bread on his table, he does his job and appears at comic-con events worldwide which pleases his devoted fans, perhaps Martin Freeman should take note.