Roku giving Sherlock Holmes a rom-com makeover with limited series greenlight

Lucy Hale

Roku

Roku’s AVoD platform The Roku Channel has commissioned a limited series about a descendent of fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.

Produced by Jaggi Entertainment, Scarlett Holmes follows a modern descendant of the British detective who inherits her ancestor’s powers of observation but applies them to romantic mysteries rather than criminal cases.

The lead role is played American actress and singer Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars, Ragdoll), who also executive produces alongside Jaggi Entertainment’s Sophie Tilson and Steve Jaggi.

In the show, Scarlett Holmes, flanked by her sidekick Jane Watson, helps clients navigate dating and relationship problems including mixed signals, secret crushes and romantic dilemmas. Her own love life becomes more complicated when she falls for Ollie Moriarity, a podcast producer secretly working on an exposé about her methods.

The series is written by Paris Herbert-Taylor and Katie Wilbert, with each episode drawing inspiration from a well-known romantic comedy. It will debut on The Roku Channel next year.

Morgan Pichinson and Sabrina Lyall are overseeing the series for Roku, while Jaggi Entertainment is handling international sales.

“Lucy Hale has the wit, warmth and comedic instincts that make her the perfect creative partner to bring ‘Scarlett Holmes’ to life,” said Brian Tannenbaum, head of Roku Originals.

“This smart, sophisticated series celebrates two genres our streamers love – romance and mystery – through a fresh, playful take on one of the most recognizable legacies in storytelling.”