In case you haven’t had enough Sherlock Holmes over the last few years, Sir Ian McKellen has signed on to play a new take on the venerable literary detective.
The Oscar nominee will play Holmes in his retirement years in the upcoming film “A Slight Trick of the Mind,” from director Bill Condon (“Dreamgirls,” “The Fifth Estate”).
“Mind” will find Holmes and his son living the quiet life in 1947 Sussex after his faithful partner Watson has passed on. Soon, Holmes is roused by a cold case from his early days that he finally feels can be solved.
The film will be written by Jeffrey Hatcher (“The Duchess”) from the novel of the same name by Mitch Cullin. Production is set to start in April in the U.K.
Condon previously directed McKellen in 1998’s “Ghosts and Monsters,” in which the actor played “Frankenstein” director James Whale and was nominated for an Oscar.
He’ll soon be seen reprising his signature “Lord of the Rings” role as Gandalf in “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.”
Holmes — created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1887– has been depicted on TV and in movies countless times. Robert Downey Jr. recently played the detective in two box office hits, while Benedict Cumberbatch plays the title role in BBC’s “Sherlock.” Meanwhile, Johnny Lee Miller plays yet another version on CBS’ “Elementary.”