May 8, 2014 - 10:16 AMT
Laura Linney joins “A Slight Trick of the Mind” Sherlock Holmes tale

Laura Linney has joined the cast of A Slight Trick of the Mind, which will mark the fourth collaboration between the actress and director Bill Condon, The Hollywood Reporter said.

The film is a new take on the tale of Sherlock Holmes. Set in 1947, an aging Holmes (Ian McKellen) returns from a journey to Japan, where, in search of a rare plant with powerful restorative qualities, he has witnessed the devastation of nuclear warfare. Now, in his remote seaside Sussex farmhouse, Holmes faces the end of his days with only the company of his housekeeper (Linney) 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.

Linney's previous work with Condon includes 2013's The Fifth Estate, 2004's Kinsey, and the pilot episode of The Big C, which Condon directed and executive produced.

Hattie Morahan, who can currently be seen starring in PBS' The Bletchley Circle, has also joined the cast..

Based on the novel by Mitch Cullin, A Slight Trick of the Mind was written by Jeffrey Hatcher, whose credits include The Duchess, Casanova and Stage Beauty. Shooting is scheduled to take place this summer in the U.K.

Anne Carey, producer of Anton Corbijn’s The American, is producing through her new venture Archer Gray Productions along with See-Saw Films. Aviv Giladi and Len Blavatnik are exec producing with Christine Langan on behalf of BBC Films, and Amy Nauiokas for Archer Gray.