'Sherlock' Comic-Con panel teases 'darkest' season ever, 3 names to know

SAN DIEGO — "We're currently talking about babies and animals -- that's how little you're learning about Season 4," co-creator Steven Moffat cracked during Sherlock's Comic-Con panel Sunday morning, following a few minutes of discussion about Mary's forthcoming baby and a very stubborn dog -- who made the internet rounds recently in the first released photo from the forthcoming season.

Needless to say, there wasn't a lot of intel shared about Moriarty, who shocked fans at the end of Season 3 by apparently being alive. In the world premiere teaser trailer that screened during the panel, Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock sets the scene via dramatic voiceover: "Something's coming. Maybe's it's Moriarty, maybe it's not," before text flashes, promising "Everything they know will be tested." The new footage -- full of quick cuts and big explosions -- also gave fans a brief glance at Toby Jones’ new villain.

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"It’s the darkest that Steven and Mark [Gatiss] have written,” Amanda Abbington, who plays Mary, promised. “When we read [the scripts] we were kind of overwhelmed. They were shocking and amazing.”

"The ones we’re doing now are so ambitious,” Cumberbatch shared. “It’s an emotional roller coaster, this [season]."

But fans shouldn't fear that there won't be the show's signature humor mixed in between the mysteries. "Life is a mixture of the two, comedy and drama," Gatiss said. “Your release from a dramatic situation is often humor -- as it should be."

Humor peppered the panel, with Cumberbatch breaking out a Trump impression at one point as well as lengthy asides about whether Cumberbatch is ever going to take off his iconic coat. "Every year [producer Sue Vertue] tells me 'We’re going to change the coat,' and I say, 'We’re not going to change the coat,'" Moffat said. Cumberbatch countered with a plea: "I wear a suit under that coat. It’s really hot."

Yes, yes, that's all well and good fun, but after the team danced and dodged around specifics, the panel was turned over to fans for a Q&A. And they wanted answers, dang it.

Unfortunately, despite worthy fan persistence, there wasn't a clear answer about whether the show will continue after 2017's Season 4, although it looks promising. Ever the downer, Moffat reminded everyone that may not be the right question: "Why is everyone assuming they all survive Season 4?" he said with a laugh to audience gasps and groans.

Another fan tried to trick some information out of the panelists. "What's the first line each of your characters say in Season 4?" After some muffled whispering between the cast to determine what would and wouldn't be a spoiler, Gatiss -- who portrays Sherlock's brother Mycroft -- landed on, "Oh Sherlock." Cumberbatch went with, "Yes," and Abbington decided she couldn't answer, but mimed a "come here" hand gesture.

As in years prior, moderator Chris Hardwick ended the panel asking for some key words about the season. Moffat noted they would change the rules and give some key names instead. Gatiss went with "Thatcher," Moffat landed on "Smith," and producer Sue Vertue shared, "Sherrinford."

Get to work, internet sleuths.