IN PHOTO: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter arrive at the 72nd Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California January 11, 2015.

IN PHOTO: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter arrive at the 72nd Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California January 11, 2015. Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

Fans of Benedict Cumberbatch have been waiting for more than a year for “Sherlock” Season 4. However, they are more likely to see “Doctor Strange” in theatres first before the BBC series premieres its new season.

Series co-creator Steven Moffat recently said that “Sherlock” Season 4 filming will begin in spring 2016, Digital Spy reported. This leaves little time for a premiere in the same year. In contrast, “Doctor Strange” is slated to hit the cinemas on Nov. 4, 2016.

“Sherlock” fans were hoping to see the BBC Christmas special this year and the Series 4 kick-off early 2016. The series has maintained an every-other-year broadcast pattern since 2010, but the latest update seems to imply an even longer period of waiting this time. Nonetheless, production for the “Sherlock” Christmas special has been completed.

In the “Sherlock” Season 3, Sherlock witnesses the wedding of Watson (Martin Freeman) and Mary (Amanda Abbington). Season 4 is expected to mirror the tragedy between Watson and Mary in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original stories.

Meanwhile, “Doctor Strange” is based on Marvel’s series and characters by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Thomas Dean Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer and Jon Spaihts are collaborating on the screenplay, while Scott Derrickson is directing.

Incidentally, there has been no confirmation yet on rumours that Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor (“12 Years a Slave”) will be part of the “Doctor Strange” cast. The Hollywood Reporter brought up the possibility of Ejiofor’s participation in the movie, but his prospective role is unknown.

According to reports, Cumberbatch is now busy sculpting his body, physically building his Doctor Strange persona. This develops as he and wife Sophie Hunter are getting ready to move in to their new property in North London, according to a Metro report. The couple’s 4-storey home reportedly costs over five million dollars.

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