Henry Cavill’s Highlander Reboot: Everything You Need to Know
If you are a fan of fantasy, action and sword-fighting, you might be familiar with the Highlander franchise. It started with a cult classic movie in 1986, starring Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod, an immortal warrior who must fight other immortals in a deadly game until only one remains. The movie spawned four sequels, two live-action TV shows, novels, comics and more, creating a rich and diverse mythology that spans centuries and cultures.
But the Highlander saga is not over yet. A reboot of the original film has been in development for over a decade, and it seems that it is finally moving forward with a promising cast and crew. Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming Highlander reboot, starring Henry Cavill as the new immortal hero.
Who is directing the Highlander reboot?
The man behind the camera is Chad Stahelski, best known for directing the John Wick franchise. Stahelski is a former stuntman and martial artist who has worked on films such as The Matrix, 300 and The Hunger Games. He joined the Highlander project in 2016, after several other directors dropped out or were replaced.
Stahelski is a self-proclaimed fan of the Highlander franchise, and he has expressed his enthusiasm and respect for the original film and its legacy. In a recent interview with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, he said: “I’ve been a fan of Highlander since I was a kid. I love the originality of it. I love the concept of it. I love the mythology of it.”
He also revealed some details about his vision for the reboot, saying that he wants to honor the original characters and elements, but also expand the story and introduce new aspects from the TV shows and other sources. He said: “Our story engages a lot of the same characters and stuff like that, but we’ve also brought in elements of all the TV shows, and we’re trying to do a bit of a prequel, a set-up to The Gathering [a 1992 episode of the series], so we have room to grow the property.”
Stahelski also hinted that he sees the potential for a new franchise based on the Highlander reboot, saying: “If we got our s*** together and we pull off the feature, we have ideas for days about how to make the coolest characters and to make that an epic TV show.”
Who is starring in the Highlander reboot?
The most exciting news about the Highlander reboot is that Henry Cavill has been cast as the lead role. Cavill is one of the most popular actors in Hollywood right now, thanks to his roles as Superman in the DC Extended Universe, Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’s The Witcher, and August Walker in Mission: Impossible — Fallout.
Cavill confirmed his involvement in the Highlander reboot in May 2021, posting on Instagram: “I’ve been a fan of Highlander since I was a lad. From the movies in all of their 80s, Queen slathered glory to the TV show with an actor who looked remarkably like one of my brothers. Being not shy with swords, and having a director as talented as Chad Stahelski at the helm, this is an opportunity like no other.”
However, it is not clear yet which character Cavill will play in the reboot. Will he be Connor MacLeod, the Scottish immortal who was played by Lambert in the original film? Or will he be Duncan MacLeod, another member of the same clan who was played by Adrian Paul in the TV series? Or will he be a completely new character who will join or challenge the existing ones?
Stahelski did not reveal any specifics about Cavill’s role, but he did say that he wants to explore different periods and cultures in his version of Highlander. He said: “When you can pick any period in time, any nationality, any culture, any type of person and make them an immortal, then have to duel and deal with the burden of immortality, that’s f***ing cool to me.”
So far, no other cast members have been announced for the Highlander reboot. However, some fans are hoping that Christopher Lambert will make a cameo appearance or reprise his role as Connor MacLeod in some capacity. Lambert did appear in the pilot episode of
the TV series as a mentor figure to Duncan MacLeod.
When will the Highlander reboot be released?
Unfortunately, there is no official release date for the Highlander reboot yet. The project is still in pre-production, which means that it has not started filming or even finalized its script. Stahelski said that he is still working on developing the story and finding the right tone for his version of Highlander.
He said: “I don’t want to be the guy that f***s this up. I want to make a good Highlander movie. I want to make a movie that I would want to see, that I think the fans would want to see.”
Stahelski is also busy with other projects, such as John Wick 4, which is currently in post-production and scheduled for release in May 2024. He said that he will focus on Highlander after he finishes John Wick 4, and that he hopes to start shooting the reboot by the end of 2024 or early 2025.
That means that we might not see the Highlander reboot until 2026 or later, depending on how long it takes to complete the production and post-production process. However, given the talent and passion involved in the project, it might be worth the wait for fans of the franchise and newcomers alike.
We will keep you updated on any news or developments regarding the Highlander reboot as they become available. Until then, you can watch or rewatch the original Highlander film and its sequels and spin-offs on various streaming platforms. And remember: there can be only one.
