In promotion of his latest film Mr. Holmes, Sir Ian McKellen posted a photo of The Athena Cinema on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Athena Cinema’s marquee is a common sight to passersby on Court Street, but the Athens staple popped up in another location for people around the world to see.
Sir Ian McKellen posted a photo of the theater’s marquee on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram July 30 in promotion of his latest film Mr. Holmes.
“If you've been waiting for my new film, Mr. Holmes to be showing at a theater nearer to you, this weekend it continues to expand to more screens in more cities,” he wrote in his post on Facebook and Instagram. “Here's the marquee in Athens, Ohio.”
Mr. Holmes began playing at the Athena July 31 and will continue playing this week through Aug. 13.
The film follows a long-retired, 93-year-old Sherlock Holmes and his attempt to recount the details of his final case before his memory deteriorates.
“Mr. Holmes is very typical of our programming,” Alexandra Kamody, operations director of the Athena, said in an email. “It is a smart, finely-acted, period piece, and we thought our audiences would be attracted to the classic tale of Sherlock Holmes with a new twist.”
Kamody said she isn’t sure how McKellen received the photo. In his message on Facebook and Instagram, the X-Men and Lord of the Rings star attributed the photo to someone named “Dawn.”
“Thanks for the photo, Dawn,” McKellen wrote. “And thanks to all of you who have supported Mr. Holmes as it’s rolled out across the USA and Canada. Take a look at Fandango for a theater near you.”
Kamody said McKellen has not reached out to the Athena besides the photo.
“We have not heard from Sir Ian, and I don't have his digits in the rolodex,” she said. “You can bet we'd roll out the red carpet if he decided to pay us a visit. … I can't think of someone I'd rather have give the Athena a shoutout than Sir Ian.”
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