WATCH: See Ian McKellen in action as Sherlock Holmes in first trailer

The first teaser trailer featuring Sir Ian McKellen as the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes has been released.

The Lord of the Rings star who is 75-years-old will play the role of Sherlock in a film adaptation of Mitch Cullin’s novel, and will again work with his Gods and Monsters filmmaker Bill Condon.

The film, now called ‘Mr Holmes’, also stars Laura Linney and Frances De la Tour of Harry Potter fame, and was originally titled A Slight Trick of the Mind after the 2005 novel on which it is based..

The description on the trailer reads: “In 1947, the world famous sleuth has retired to a remote Sussex farmhouse, living in relative anonymity with only his housekeeper Mrs Munro and her young son Roger for company. Cantankerous, demanding and frustrated with the mis-representation of him in Watson’s best-selling novels, he diverts his attention to an unsolved case. As the mystery deepens, Sherlock tries desperately to recall the events of 30 years ago that ultimately led to his retirement.”

Sir Ian last year posted the first image of himself as Holmes on Twitter, playing the detective as a 93-year-old, with the caption: “Over 70 actors have previously played Sherlock Holmes. Now he’s 93 years old and it’s my turn.”

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