Highlander has been a beloved action franchise since its debut in the 80s, and it even inspired a successful TV show that some argue surpassed the original films. Discussions about a Highlander reboot have been ongoing since 2008. Progress was slow until 2016 when Chad Stahelski, co-director of the popular John Wick films, joined the production. Excitement grew even more when it was announced that the talented Henry Cavill was also on board for the reboot. Given the long development process, fans are eager to know the current status of the Highlander reboot and the role Henry Cavill will play in it.
It was previously uncertain which character Henry Cavill would portray in the Highlander reboot. The original 1986 Highlander film featured Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod. Following this, Highlander: The Series aired from 1992 to 1998, with Adrian Paul in the role of Duncan MacLeod. Consequently, it remained ambiguous whether Cavill would be cast as Connor or introduced as a new member of the MacLeod Clan.
There has been a lot of buzz surrounding Henry Cavill’s involvement in the upcoming Highlander reboot, with the actor himself announcing on Instagram that he will be a significant part of the Highlander universe. He expressed his excitement, stating, “Very exciting news today! 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.”
Henry Cavill’s journey in the entertainment industry over the past few years has been quite eventful, particularly from a franchise perspective. While it initially seemed like he would reprise his role as Superman in the DC Universe, those plans were changed when Warner Bros brought in James Gunn and Peter Safran to oversee the new DC Studios.
Following this change, Gunn clarified in a press conference that Henry Cavill was not fired from the role of Superman, as there was never a deal in place for another movie. However, Henry’s anticipation of returning as Superman led him to make the decision to move on from his role as Geralt of Rivia in the popular Netflix series, The Witcher. The series continued without him, with Liam Hemsworth taking on the role.
Since his departure from Superman and The Witcher, Henry Cavill appears to be on the lookout for his next big franchise. While The Witcher is now in his past, Cavill appeared in Netflix’s Enola Holmes 2, the sequel to the successful film led by Millie Bobby Brown, portraying the famous Sherlock Holmes.
Additionally, Cavill was scheduled to appear in Argylle and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, both of which seemed promising. However, both movies failed to gain significant traction at the box office.
Director Chad Stahelski, known for his work on the John Wick series, has been developing a reboot of the Highlander franchise. Stahelski has expressed his enthusiasm for having Henry Cavill take on the lead role in the film. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Stahelski praised Cavill’s physicality and his ability to portray the empathy of a character that has lived for 500 years. Stahelski also highlighted Cavill’s talent in conveying the burden of immortality and the transformation from a young, vibrant soul to an old, wise soul.
Stahelski has been working on the Highlander reboot for several years, with the script written by Kerry Williamson. Despite facing challenges and delays, Stahelski remains committed to the project. He has emphasized the studio’s support and the potential for the Highlander property to sustain a larger universe, possibly including a TV show. Stahelski has expressed a desire to avoid rushing the project and to carefully develop the creative direction in order to avoid repeating the mistakes of the original Highlander film.
As of the latest update, Henry Cavill’s Highlander reboot is scheduled to commence filming in 2025, with an anticipated release date in the same year. However, it’s important to note that these dates are subject to change, given the history of delays and uncertainties surrounding the project. Nevertheless, fans are eagerly anticipating the realization of this long-awaited film.
It’s difficult to predict the exact direction Stahelski will take with his reboot of “Highlander.” Will he start the story from the beginning, providing an overview of the MacLeod history? Since it has been a while since “The Highlander” was popular, some form of recap is likely. Attracting new fans to potentially expand the franchise will be crucial, so it’s important to help them understand the MacLeod history in order to build the new “Highlander” world.
The Highlander franchise is an extensive and captivating universe that encompasses both movies and television shows. It all started with the Highlander movie series, which focused on the character Connor McLeod, an immortal born in the Highlands of Scotland. Played by Christopher Lambert, Connor’s story was further enriched by the inclusion of the iconic Sean Connery as his mentor.
The franchise expanded with a television show centered around another immortal, Duncan McLeod, portrayed by Adrian Paul. This TV series, which ran for six seasons, delved into the rich lore of the Highlander universe and even featured a crossover with the original movie character, Connor McLeod.
In addition to the movies and TV series, there was an animated series titled Highlander: The Animated Series, which ran for two seasons, adding more depth to the Highlander mythos.
Furthermore, the franchise attempted a spin-off called Highlander: The Raven, focusing on the popular character Amanda Darieux from the original TV series. Though short-lived, this spin-off provided fans with further exploration of the Highlander universe.
The Highlander franchise’s impact expanded beyond the screen, with made-for-TV movies like Highlander: The Source, which premiered on the Sci-Fi Channel in 2007 and added another layer to the immortal saga.
Overall, the Highlander franchise has created a captivating and expansive universe, drawing audiences into the timeless struggle of immortals throughout history.
The history of the Highlander remake is quite tumultuous. In 2012, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, known for directing 28 Weeks Later, departed from the project due to creative differences with Summit Entertainment regarding the direction of the story. Prior to joining Highlander, Fresnadillo had also left another remake, The Crow. The project then saw Justin Lin, known for his work on the Fast & Furious franchise, initially attached as the director before shifting his focus to the Fast & Furious movies. Additionally, Ryan Reynolds was once set to star in the Highlander remake, but this casting did not materialize. Originally slated for release in 2011, the film’s release was delayed to 2014, and as of now, its future remains uncertain with the potential for further delays.
