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Actor Ian McKellan is taking on an iconic literary character with the upcoming film 鈥淢r. Holmes.鈥澛�

鈥淗olmes,鈥� which hits theaters on July 17, catches up with famous detective Sherlock when he鈥檚 in his 90s. He鈥檚 retired and living with his housekeeper (Laura Linney) and her son (Milo Parker). Sherlock is having problems with his memory and is trying to remember what happened with one of his last cases.

The film is directed by Bill Condon of 鈥淭he Fifth Estate鈥� and co-stars Hiroyuki Sanada, Patrick Kennedy, and Hattie Morahan.

鈥淗olmes,鈥� which looks from its trailer like a sedate drama, is a far cry from, for example, the 2009 movie 鈥淪herlock Holmes鈥� which starred Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law as Sherlock and Watson and was filled with action scenes. The cause of this could be twofold. For one, while Sherlock never really disappeared from the public鈥檚 memory, younger audiences may be more acquainted with the detective following the 2009 movie and the hit British series 鈥淪herlock,鈥� which stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Sherlock and Watson. Now that audiences鈥� memories have been refreshed and new affection for the character may be present, a new film can center on an older Sherlock, something that would otherwise seem like an unsure bet to youth-centric Hollywood.

In addition, this movie may be benefiting from the effect of such films as 鈥淭he Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.鈥� 鈥淢arigold,鈥� which was released in 2012 and centered on a group of senior citizens voyaging to India, became an unexpected hit, enough to greenlight the sequel which was released earlier this year. In the meantime, movies with older action stars like Liam Neeson and Denzel Washington have also done well at the box office. While Hollywood is still investing in far more movies with younger casts, the popularity of reboots means that older stars are coming back to reprise their old roles, resulting in a more multi-generational feel in big blockbusters. Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger returned for 鈥淭erminator Genisys鈥� along younger stars Emilia Clarke, Jason Clarke, and Jai Courtney, while original 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� actors Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill are returning for the upcoming 鈥淪tar Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens鈥� and Sylvester Stallone is starring in the new 鈥淩ocky鈥� movie 鈥淐reed.鈥� McKellen himself has a starring role in the 鈥淴-Men鈥� franchise as an older version of villain Magneto, the younger version of which is portrayed by Michael Fassbender.