Bill Condon’s “Mr. Holmes” has started to shoot, with additional cast announced, and the first image released of Ian McKellen as Sherlock Holmes at the age of 93.
The movie, which will shoot for seven weeks on location in London and on the south coast of England, also stars Laura Linney as Holmes’ housekeeper, Mrs. Munro.
Additional cast announced Thursday includes Hattie Morahan (“The Golden Compass,” “The Bank Job”), Patrick Kennedy (“War Horse,” “Atonement”), Hiroyuki Sanada (“The Wolverine,” “47 Ronin”), Roger Allam (“Tamara Drewe,” “The Book Thief”), Phil Davis (“Vera Drake,” “Notes on a Scandal”), Frances de la Tour (“The History Boys,” “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”), and Milo Parker (“Ghosthunters: On Icy Trails”), who plays Mrs. Munro’s son.
“Mr. Holmes,” which was formerly known as “A Slight Trick of the Mind,” is based on the novel “A Slight Trick of the Mind” by Mitch Cullin. It has been adapted for the screen by Jeffrey Hatcher, whose credits include “The Duchess,” “Casanova” and “Stage Beauty.”
The pic is set in 1947, when an ageing Holmes returns from a journey to Japan, where, in search of a rare plant with restorative qualities, he has witnessed the devastation of nuclear warfare. Now, in his remote seaside farmhouse, Holmes faces the end of his days, tending to his bees, with only the company of his housekeeper and her young son, Roger. Grappling with the diminishing powers of his mind, Holmes comes to rely upon the boy as he revisits the circumstances of the unsolved case that forced him into retirement, and searches for answers to the mysteries of life and love — before it’s too late.
The pic is being produced by Anne Carey, producer of Anton Corbijn’s “The American,” through her venture Archer Gray, along with Iain Canning and Emile Sherman of See-Saw Films, producers of “The King’s Speech,” with Aviv Giladi, CEO of AI Film, and Len Blavatnik exec producing. Christine Langan, head of BBC Films, is an exec producer on behalf of BBC Films, who are also co-financing, as is Amy Nauiokas of Archer Gray.
FilmNation Entertainment is handling international sales.
