Just yesterday, the first image of Ian McKellen as the 93 year-old version of Sherlock Holmes from Bill Condon’s Mr Holmes arrived via the actor’s Twitter feed. While there also came word that Hiroyuki Sanada would be joining the cast, today Screen International reports that the ensemble will be further boosted by Roger Allam, Hattie Morahan, Phil Davies, Frances de la Tour, Milo Parker and Patrick Kennedy{
While the majority of the new cast members’ roles remain shrouded in the sort of mystery that Holmes himself would unravel in seconds, we do know that Parker will be Roger, the young son of Mrs. Munro (Laura Linney), Holmes’ housekeeper.
The story – which Condon adapted with Jeffrey Hatcher from Mitch Cullin's novel A Slight Trick Of The Mind – takes place in 1947 when Holmes is 93, long retired to his Sussex beekeeping and frustrated by his diminishing power of recollection. He believes his bees' royal jelly is part of the secret of his longevity, and his further researches into the subject have recently taken him to post-war Japan. There he encounters the son of a former British diplomat who knew Holmes and disappeared at the start of the war. Holmes doesn't remember, but feels the familiar pull of an unfinished case...
“Sherlock Holmes at 93 is retired, still solving mysteries: but here’s the sting – he also keeps bees," says McKellen. "So many splendid actors have already played the part but none of them had Bill Condon directing. I’m the lucky one: and I’m excited.” Condon will be shooting for seven weeks on location in London and the South Coast. There’s no indication of a release date just yet, but we’d expect this one next year.