Sir Ian McKellen Looks to Continue a Series of Great Sherlocks with Mr. Holmes

As if the BBC didn't have enough good programming going for it already, they are looking to continue their streak of successes with Mr. Holmes, yet another iteration of the classic Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle detective: Sherlock Holmes. Right now, the viewing public has Elementary (Johnny Lee Miller), a series of Holmes movies (Robert Downey Jr.), and the best incarnation of all: Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) to choose from when it comes to the super sleuth.

Now, the BBC is producing a new movie, Mr. Holmes, set to release in 2015. The twist this time? The eponymous character is 93 and away from his classic adventures at 221B Baker Street. The character of Dr. Watson has been completely done away with, except in flashbacks, and the whole format of the story is going to be different.

It is a bold move to completely change a character that is obviously so adored by the audience. The very qualities that have made Sherlock so popular (including Cumberbatch's jawline) are going to be mostly gone. However, the BBC does have two people as proof against fan backlash: Sir Ian McKellen and Laura Linney (who plays Sherlock's housekeeper). These two fantastic actors seem well suited to their roles. Both have a great track record of strong performances and are well-loved by viewers everywhere. There's not much more than a few promotional photos to go on yet, but one way or the other, Mr. Holmes is looking exciting.

Comment with your predictions for Mr. Holmes.