Current Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat is now giving us his interpretation of history’s most famous detective. No, not Batman, but Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s own Sherlock Holmes. On BBC’s Sherlock, Moffat is giving us a modernized version of Sherlock Holmes’ exploits as he searches for a serial killer who makes his murders look like suicides.

The series remains true to the more iconic details from the original books. Holmes and Watson still live on 221b Baker Street and all the characters have the same names. The glaring difference is that the series is set in contemporary London rather than the late 19th century.

The miniseries is set to star Benedict Cumberbatch (The Other Boleyn Girl) as Holmes and  Martin Freeman, who you may remember as Jim from the British version of The Office, as Watson. This project is co-created by Mark Gatiss, writer and actor in various British series including Doctor Who and The League of Gentlemen.

The first episode of the three part series will air on July 25 on the UK’s BBC1 and BBC HD. No premiere date has been announced for the United States, but the show is expected to air on PBS as part of its Masterpiece series.

Between this news and the success of Robert Downey Jr.’s popular film franchise, could we be looking at a resurgence of interest in the classic detective? Can other classics be far behind?

Check out the trailer for this new series after the jump.

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I will admit I’m not as big a fan of Doctor Who as I am of Torchwood. I guess I just like my TV shows with more snogging, shagging and swearing. Still, you can’t deny the enduring popularity of Doctor Who, even as it goes through many actors playing the title character. Audiences love it and it shows no signs of slowing down.

Good news then for fans in the U.S. then as the BBC has announced the new season, featuring Matt Smith as the Doctor and Karen Gillan as his sidekick Amy Pond, will make its U.S. television debut on Saturday, April 17 on BBC America. This will come soon after the show’s UK. debut, which won’t really be soon enough for the show’s U.S. fans I’m sure.

After seeing the trailers and all the other bits and pieces about this new series and the new Doctor, I may have to give this show another chance. It looks like they make be trying to take the show in a slightly more mature direction, which might help it reach an even broader audience — and convert on-the-fence Torchwood fans like myself. Hey, it could happen.