Alessio Liguori is helming "Moriarty Rising: A Sherlock Holmes Tale," a dual-format project that reimagines the origin story of Sherlock Holmes' arch-nemesis Professor Moriarty. The film, written by Oliver Draiv, shoots in Turin, Italy and will release as both a premium vertical series and a standalone feature film.
The dual-format approach reflects how prestige content now bridges theatrical and streaming distribution. Rather than choosing between film or episodic storytelling, producers build projects that work across formats. This strategy has gained traction as studios seek IP exploitation across multiple platforms simultaneously.
Liguori brings European prestige to the project. His background suggests a filmmaker comfortable with literary adaptation and character-driven narratives. Draiv's script positions Moriarty not as a secondary villain but as a protagonist, exploring what transforms him into Holmes' greatest enemy.
Setting the story in contemporary Turin is a bold creative choice. It moves the Sherlock Holmes universe into modern Italy, abandoning period constraints for contemporary intrigue. This approach mirrors how other classic IP gets reimagined for current audiences. The Italian location also taps into European production incentives and creative talent pools.
The "Moriarty Rising" project joins a crowded field of Holmesian properties. Sherlock Holmes remains one of the most adapted literary characters in entertainment history. Recent projects range from BBC's "Sherlock" to Netflix's "Enola Holmes" films to Henry Cavill's "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." adjacent spy work. What distinguishes "Moriarty Rising" is its villain-centric perspective and willingness to abandon both period and location conventions.
The vertical series format indicates streaming distribution, likely YouTube or similar platforms that have embraced short-form prestige content. This format accommodates