I've been eager to see Bill Condon get back on top of things. Hopefully that “Twilight” gig kept the gas tank full, but “The Fifth Estate” apparently didn't work out (I confess I never saw it). I'm super intrigued by his forthcoming live action “Beauty and the Beast,” but in the meantime, we have “Mr. Holmes” opening this summer.
It was probably a smart move for Condon to collaborate with Ian McKellen once again. McKellen doesn't get this kind of leading man spotlight that often anymore and the two made absolute magic with “Gods and Monsters” in 1998. And indeed, the reviews out of the Berlin Film Festival, where the film premiered in February, were pretty positive across the board.
The film tells the story of an aged and retired Sherlock Holmes (McKellen) looking back on his life while grappling with an unsolved case. It's based on Mitch Cullin's 2005 novel “A Slight Trick of the Mind.” Roadside Attractions has released a trailer for the film, which you can check out above.
“Mr. Holmes” hits theaters July 15.