Watch: Ian McKellen in the Teaser for 'Mr. Holmes'

Ian McKellen in the "Mr. Holmes" one-sheet. (Photo: BBC Films)
Ian McKellen in the "Mr. Holmes" one-sheet. (Photo: BBC Films)
Despite the fact that there are currently three versions of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's great detective in popular culture at the moment - Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock, Jonny Lee Miller in Elementary and Robert Downey, Jr in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes series of films (Yes, I am determined to believe a third installment is going to happen. One day.) - there's always room for one more. Especially when that one more is being played by acting legend Sir Ian McKellen

The latest iteration of Holmes is slated to hit theaters later this year - in the form of a film titled, simply, Mr. Holmes. And the highly anticipated first teaser trailer has arrived! 

Based on the novel A Slight Trick of the Mind by Mitch Cullen, this story focuses on an aging and mentally deteriorating version of the great detective, a man who, at 93 years old, is battling old age and encroaching dementia as he revists the circumstances of the case that drove him into retirement.

This is a much darker, more heartwrenching version of Holmes than we normally see - certainly in comparisoon to the contemporary versions currently being played by Cumberbatch and Miller.  This Holmes is without his Watson, who is long dead and he now lives with a housekeeper (played by Laura Linney) and her young son (Milo Parker). 

Thus far, we've only seen a brief scene from the film released, but now we've got a proper teaser trailer,

Watch for yourselves below: 

It looks kind of heartbreaking and fantastic, right? I'm already feeling anxious about the fact that I just know there's no way this can end happily. But gracious, McKellen seems just as perfect as we all expected, yeah? 

What do you think? Does Mr. Holmes look interesting or seem too sad? Are you curious about yet another take on Sherlock Holmes? Or have we had too many lately? 


Lacy Baugher

Lacy's love of British TV is embarrassingly extensive, but primarily centers around evangelizing all things Doctor Who, and watching as many period dramas as possible.

Digital media type by day, she also has a fairly useless degree in British medieval literature, and dearly loves to talk about dream poetry, liminality, and the medieval religious vision. (Sadly, that opportunity presents itself very infrequently.) York apologist, Ninth Doctor enthusiast, and unabashed Ravenclaw. Say hi on Threads or Blue Sky at @LacyMB. 

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