We’ve known for almost a year that Sir Ian McKellen would be the next actor to take on the mantle of Sherlock Holmes—albeit a much older Holmes, in Bill Condon’s upcoming film Mr. Holmes. Now, we finally get our first look at him in-character!
Yesterday, McKellen tweeted out this photo of himself as the great detective at the ripe old age of 93. Along with the photo, he wrote:
Over 70 actors have previously played Sherlock Holmes. Now he’s 93 years old and it’s my turn. #MrHolmes
Condon’s film is based on Mitch Cullin’s novel A Slight Trick of the Mind, which sees an aging Holmes obsessing over an unsolved case.
We guess it makes sense that Holmes would have outgrown the deerstalker in his twilight years. (And now we’re imagining a second photo of McKellen in full beekeeper garb, as befits the older Holmes in canon.) But who will play Watson? While we would die if Patrick Stewart took on the role, so far there’s been no news to encourage this particular fantasy. (And every indication that the movie is Watson-less.)
Mr. Holmes’ release date is set for 2015.
Photo: Twitter/Ian McKellen
