AXN Mystery detects Russia’s Sherlock

Sherlock: The Russian Chronicles will air in Japan on AXN Mystery

Sony-owned Japanese channel AXN Mystery has picked up Russian period drama Sherlock: The Russian Chronicles.

The 8×52’ series originally premiered on Start, the Russian streaming platform which specialises in high-end drama series, and made its linear debut in the country on TNT on February 1.

Sherlock: The Russian Chronicles was acquired for AXN by NHK Enterprises, the commercial arm of Japanese pubcaster NHK, which also acquires content for third-party Japanese broadcasters. It will premiere on AXN Mystery on February 14.

The series is a fresh take on the famous detective set in 19th century St Petersburg against a backdrop of the country’s most famous sites and landmarks, with Holmes trying to track down Jack the Ripper, who has fled to Russia.

The series was produced by Russian indie production group Yellow, Black and White in coproduction with Moscow-based Sreda. It is directed by Nurbek Egen and written by Oleg Malovichko.

Operated by Sony Pictures Entertainment, AXN Mystery is a Japanese entertainment channel specialising in mystery dramas.

It is the Japanese home to series including Miss Scarlet & The Duke from A&E; Van Der Valk and Midsomer Murders from All3Media International; Poirot and McDonald & Dodds from ITV; Art of Crime from Gaumont Television; and Death in Paradise from BBC Studios.