It seems that the actor's odd looks almost lost him the titular role.

According to "Sherlock" and "Doctor Who" showrunner Steven Moffat, BBC was initially adamant about Cumberbatch's appropriateness for the headlining role. "'You promised us a sexy Sherlock, not him'," Moffat quotes the network in an interview at the Hay Festival.

Entertainment Weekly reports that according to Moffat, Tennant also received more or less the same comment for his Casanova role. "They said of casting David Tennant as Casanova, 'Damn, you should have cast someone sexier'," said Moffat.

Apparently, BBC's ideal image of Sherlock does not fit Cumberbatch well. But with the show slated for a 4^th season release, it is safe to say that the actor's "not sexy enough" image and alleged lack of appeal has been proven false.

Now, Cumberbatch is enjoying and dealing with a good number of female followers who are undeniably impressed with his unconventional looks. Dubbed "Cumberb**ches," his fans are a testament to how much he's become a heartthrob from his early days.

"You don't get to see it on your watch often that someone goes from [TV] to being a big international movie star," Daily Mail quotes Moffat. "It can be quite annoying too if you're scheduling a damn show," he adds.

Rumors are saying that "Sherlock" Season 4 might actually be delayed. "The conflict in schedules of the cast, crew and actors were said to cause the delay," reports Latin Post.

It turns out that the actor has also been cast a role in the upcoming Scott Cooper-film, "Black Mass." Cumberbatch will be playing the role of Johnny Depp's brother in the movie, notes Latin Post. The "Sherlock" actor is replacing Guy Pearce who was initially confirmed to portray Billy Bulger, adds the outlet.

Will "Sherlock" Season 4 still see a 2015 release or will Cumberbatch's busy schedule push it back to 2016?