Benedict Cumberbatch to star in Victorian-era 'Sherlock' episode

AUSTIN, Texas, March 17 (UPI) -- Benedict Cumberbatch will star in a special, Victorian-era episode of Sherlock.

Series co-creator Steven Moffat confirmed the news in an interview with Entertainment Weekly at SXSW.

"The special is its own thing," he said of the 90-minute episode. "We wouldn't have done the story we're doing, and the way we're doing it, if we didn't have this special. It's not part of the run of three episodes. So we had this to do it -- as we could hardly conceal -- it's Victorian."

The BBC previously teased a photo of Cumberbatch and co-star Martin Freeman in Victorian-era clothing in November 2014. The actors were spotted in similar costumes while filming the program in February.

Sherlock premiered in 2010, and takes place in contemporary London. Cumberbatch stars as legendary sleuth Sherlock Holmes, with Freeman as Dr. John Watson. The Victorian-era special is expected to air in December ahead of the show's Season 4 premiere.