By Lacy Baugher for Movies on February 7th, 2015

Get Your First Look at Sir Ian McKellen as 'Mr. Holmes'

Ian McKellen in "Mr. Holmes". (Photo: BBC Films)
Ian McKellen in "Mr. Holmes". (Photo: BBC Films)
Since Sir Ian McKellen is one of those sorts of actors that most people would be willing to watch read out math equations, any time he takes a role, it's of interest. When he decides to take on play an iconic part like the great Sherlock Holmes - who, by the way, is the most frequently portrayed fictional character in film or television - it pretty much guarantees that the end result is going to be awesome. McKellen will be playing the great detective in the upcoming film Mr. Holmes, which is based on the 2005 novel A Slight Trick of the Mind by Mitch Cullen.

The movie will offer a slightly different take on the tale of Sherlock Holmes - unlike contemporary series Sherlock and Elementary which focus on a younger detective solving various cases, this story will be set during the twilight of his life, as he battles old age, dementia, and a growing obsession with an unsolved case from his past. Without his Watson, the 93-year-old Holmes now lives with a housekeeper and her young son 

The first clip of McKellen-as-Holmes has been released and, as you probably have already guessed, he seems as perfect in the part as you could imagine. And also sort of heartbreaking. Laura Linney also stars as Holmes' housekeeper, Mrs. Munro, along with Milo Parker as her son Roger. 

Watch for yourselves below: 

McKellen, who seems very excited about his involvement in this film and proud of the work he and director Bill Condon have done, also tweeted out a teaser poster for Mr. Holmes. 

First teaser poster for UK release of my upcoming film, 'Mr Holmes'. Sorry to be a tease, but I hope you like it. pic.twitter.com/d6Aod8wtVO

— Ian McKellen (@IanMcKellen) February 6, 2015

This outfit though! So awesome! 

McKellen also tweeted that the "proper trailer" for Mr. Holmes "will soon be ready", so hopefully we won't have to wait to long to see more from this movie. 

What do you think of the prospect of Sir Ian playing Sherlock Holmes? Thumbs up or down? 

By Lacy Baugher for Movies on February 7th, 2015
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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    Based on the novel A Slight Trick of the Mind by Mitch Cullin, the film follows the adventures of the great detective near the end of his life. At the age of 93, Holmes has retired to Sussex, where he lives with a housekeeper (Laura Linney) and her young son (Milo Parker) as he struggles with getting older and the perils of encroaching dementia.

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    And, of course, there’s the fact that it stars the great Sir Ian McKellen, one of those actors who is of such a caliber that most people would happily watch him read the phone book, let along play Sherlock Holmes. (I have actually watched McKellen read the phone book, for the record, and it was still a mesmerizing performance. Just so you know.)

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