Having appeared as other literary icons such as King Lear, Richard III, Gandalf the Grey and (ahem) X-Men's Magneto, McKellen will now divert his talents to a new interpretation of the legendary detective. Rather than an adaptation of one of Arthur Conan Doyle's original tales, however, McKellen will be starring in A Slight Trick of the Mind. The film will be based on Mitch Cullin's 2005 novel of the same name.

The book follows a 93-year-old Holmes in 1947. The long retired Holmes starts re-examining an old case as his mental capabilities start to diminish. Screen Daily reports director Bill Condon will helm the adaptation. McKellen and Condon previously worked together on 1998's Gods and Monsters. Condon is best known for his work on the final two Twilight films, and his latest effort - WikiLeaks drama The Fifth Estate - is due to premiere at the Toronto Film Festival later today. 

Coincidentally, The Fifth Estate stars Benedict Cumberbatch, who will reappear as the detective in season three of the wildly popular BBC series Sherlock later this year. Meanwhile, a third film in the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes series is in pre-production, although news on its progress has been thin on the ground. It has been tentatively scheduled for release next year, although it might be bit longer than that before we get to see the next film in the financially-successful 'reboot'.

Elementary, another 'modern day' TV update of the character, will return for a second season at the end of September. Sherlock Holmes has well and truly recaptured the imagination of the public, and the character will undoubtedly continue gracing screens both big and small for some time yet.

(Image: Wikimedia Commons)