Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart kiss at movie premiere

LONDON, June 12 (UPI) -- Ian McKellen and best friend Patrick Stewart cozied up on the red carpet this week.

The 76-year-old English actor and his 74-year-old X-Men co-star delighted fans by kissing at the London premiere of Mr. Holmes on Wednesday.

Stewart and wife Sunny Ozell were on hand to support McKellen, who stars as Sherlock Holmes in the new movie. The pair of actors locked lips as the 36-year-old singer laughed and embraced them both.

McKellen and Stewart are well known for their longtime friendship, and have collaborated on several projects. The pair portray Magneto and Professor X in the X-Men movies, and co-starred in Waiting for Godot on Broadway.

We've had a welcome guest at Baker Street @IanMcKellen @SirPatStew pic.twitter.com/OgwRZluyoj

— Mr Holmes (@MrHolmesMovie) June 10, 2015

Mr. Holmes follows an aging Sherlock Holmes as he embarks on a journey to solve one last case. The film is based on the Mitch Cullin book A Slight Trick of the Mind, and directed by Bill Condon (Chicago). Laura Linney co-stars as the detective's housekeeper, Mrs. Munro.

Mr. Holmes opens in theaters July 17 in the U.S. McKellen currently stars as Freddie on ITV series Vicious, and is scheduled to voice Cogsworth in Disney's live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. Stewart will next appear in holiday comedy Christmas Eve.