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From the man himself:

Henry Cavill wrote:Very exciting news today! I've been a fan of Highlander since I was 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. Deep diving into franchise storytelling with all the tools at our disposal, is going to make this an adventure I (and hopefully all of you) shall never forget.
And as you can see from the swipe, I've lately been dipping into some of my Scottish heritage, and inadvertently getting my base line research underway!

Henry Cavill To Star in Lionsgate’s ‘Highlander’ Reboot From Chad Stahelski - Deadline

I'll believe it when I see it.

While this is certainly more substantial than anything I've heard or seen in a while, this whole project has stalled more than a British Leyland car on a cold morning.

Also, doesn't say who he's playing, the assumption would be Connor and I don't really like him for that role at all.

Here we are...

 Flinty wrote:
Here we are...

Born to be kings...

 Azreal13 wrote:
I'll believe it when I see it.

While this is certainly more substantial than anything I've heard or seen in a while, this whole project has stalled more than a British Leyland car on a cold morning.

Also, doesn't say who he's playing, the assumption would be Connor and I don't really like him for that role at all.

I think he would make a great Kurgan. Would like to see him play the villain.
I really liked him as evil superman. More of the same please

I could see Christian bale as Connor

Lovely david v goliath story right there

I'd love to see Rainn Wilson as Connor. He's crazy tall, has bad eyesight, an intense stare and natural menace.

I was a big fan of the TV show and hope they keep some of the lore. That said, I don’t know why they need to reboot this series instead of writing a film from the POV of a different immortal. They wouldn’t be tied to Scotland and could cast whoever was best for the story without fan outrage.

Highlander is one of my favourites, and I could hands down write a thesis on everything I think could and/or should be retained or excluded from the reboot.

But fundamentally I don't agree with bringing known names to established characters in general. You then end up with double baggage and too much overlap for comparison.

Much better to bring someone new or unknown in.

Given the history of the production though, I'd assume there's a caveat in place where they need a "name" in order to secure the investment.


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 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
I was a big fan of the TV show and hope they keep some of the lore. That said, I don’t know why they need to reboot this series instead of writing a film from the POV of a different immortal. They wouldn’t be tied to Scotland and could cast whoever was best for the story without fan outrage.

I'm pretty sure that rebooting a series named "Highlander" is going to need a certain amount of linking to Scotland, otherwise you may as well call it "Chartered Accountant."

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
I was a big fan of the TV show and hope they keep some of the lore. That said, I don’t know why they need to reboot this series instead of writing a film from the POV of a different immortal. They wouldn’t be tied to Scotland and could cast whoever was best for the story without fan outrage.

This. This. Ten thousand times this. If you absolutely cannot come up with an original idea and simply MUST rehash and old one, PLEASE come up with an original spin on said old idea.

They've already done it twice, to mixed, at best, results.

The original was lightning in a bottle. My skepticism that this can recapture that is off the scale, but if it does flop, then it's one set of variables one can account for which starting from scratch doesn't allow.

As long as they get a decent fight choreographer that actually knows something about HEMA and other sword based martial arts. Hopefully it doesn’t just end up as random katana porn.

 Flinty wrote:
As long as they get a decent fight choreographer that actually knows something about HEMA and other sword based martial arts. Hopefully it doesn’t just end up as random katana porn.

I think Chad Stahelski is one of the better choices as I suspect even if he doesn't know swords, he'll know the right person to tap

If they can avoid everyone using a reverse blade grip and just slashing all of the time, that would be good. There are some great manuals out there with attacks and counters that are just so fluid that it would be great to get some of them filmed.

beast_gts wrote:
From the man himself:

Henry Cavill wrote:Very exciting news today! I've been a fan of Highlander since I was 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. Deep diving into franchise storytelling with all the tools at our disposal, is going to make this an adventure I (and hopefully all of you) shall never forget.
And as you can see from the swipe, I've lately been dipping into some of my Scottish heritage, and inadvertently getting my base line research underway!

Henry Cavill To Star in Lionsgate’s ‘Highlander’ Reboot From Chad Stahelski - Deadline

The first rule of Highlander is you cast the Scottish actor as an Egyptian.

Haha! And is Cavill french enough to play the Scotsman?

Highlander is a fantastic premise for a movie with some great bits and a LOT of bad. ESPECIALLY the sequels. (ESPECIALLY 2).

It could use a modern remake with better special effects and better sword play and better casting for the parts they are supposed to be playing.

I look forward to this.

I loved the first movie but for the love of God please don't remake the second one. It was horrible. It will be interesting to see who does the soundtrack. Queen A Kind of Magic is how I first heard of Highlander.

 Lance845 wrote:
Highlander is a fantastic premise for a movie with some great bits and a LOT of bad. ESPECIALLY the sequels. (ESPECIALLY 2).

It could use a modern remake with better special effects and better sword play and better casting for the parts they are supposed to be playing.

I look forward to this.

Better sword play? Kind of like how Revenge of the Sith had better sword play than Return of the Jedi?

No. Revenge of the Sith had all the trappings of all the prequel swordplay. Which was people swinging sticks at sticks instead of swinging them at people. Even the better fights like the one with Maul in Ep1 has a lot of Qui Gon and Obi Won swinging their lightsabers at nobody and nothing. Return of the Jedi at least had Luke chopping wood at Vader himself.

Go back and watch Highlander. The sword fights are some of the worst you can get in a movie about sword fighting. They constantly swing swords at the other persons sword. It's like watching kids play sword fighting.

I saw the original a couple weeks ago, and it's a movie with a terrible lead and terrible fighting... Redeemed by a basic but good plot, wonderful music, a playful and solid supporting cast and a couple of scenes of pure genius (the kurgan in the church, the fencing duel).

Usually I'm always against remake, but highlander 1 is maybe THE movie for which I can see the attractiveness of a simple, honest and basic remake...as long as they will resist the temptation to put other stuffs there, innovate it or make it more contemporary.

 Lance845 wrote:
No. Revenge of the Sith had all the trappings of all the prequel swordplay. Which was people swinging sticks at sticks instead of swinging them at people. Even the better fights like the one with Maul in Ep1 has a lot of Qui Gon and Obi Won swinging their lightsabers at nobody and nothing. Return of the Jedi at least had Luke chopping wood at Vader himself.

Go back and watch Highlander. The sword fights are some of the worst you can get in a movie about sword fighting. They constantly swing swords at the other persons sword. It's like watching kids play sword fighting.

Given Mr Lamberts short sightedness that was most likely for the best, and even then there were mishaps

 Cybtroll wrote:

Usually I'm always against remake, but highlander 1 is maybe THE movie for which I can see the attractiveness of a simple, honest and basic remake...as long as they will resist the temptation to put other stuffs there, innovate it or make it more contemporary.

Agree in general. It could use SOME updates. When the Kurgen accuses the Highlander of being gay and he's like "Il fething kill you!" it's a bit outdated with 80s/90s gay panic. Ain't nothing wrong with ditching stuff like that. It doesn't serve the story or make a point or do anything by being there.

beast_gts wrote:

 Flinty wrote:
Here we are...

Born to be kings...

Hey, they can cast Rami Malek as another Immortal, and remake that bit from the video. Although "Freddie" can have a sword this time, instead of a mic stand.

When the Kurgen accuses the Highlander of being gay and he's like "Il fething kill you!" it's a bit outdated with 80s/90s gay panic.

What now?

I've seen this movie so often I can practically keep up with the dialogue and I've no idea what you're referring to.


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The only scene even close I can recall is where MacLeod as Nash is being interviewed, but the Kurgan hasn't even appeared in the present day at that point.

It's very possible I am misremembering the scene.

The bit I remember that is the subject of this is one guy implies to the other guy that he is gay or going on a gay date and the guy he says this to reacts with immediate outrage at the insinuation.

The outraged guy I remember being the Highlander himself. I thought it was the Kurgan, but maybe it wasn't? Eh, the movie is due for a rewatch anyway.

Not even close. It's a police detective while Nash is being interrogated for trying to escape the underground car park after the duel with Fasil.

"You a [sort of meatball often served with onion gravy] Nash?"

"Why Garfield, you cruising for a piece of ass?"


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There is a scene much later where the Kurgan claims to have raped Heather, which MacLeod didn't know. Perhaps you're conflating the two?

It's possible. Il give the movie a watch tonight. It has been awhile.

Why is Hollywood so creatively bankrupt that all we ever seem to get is reboots? What happened to letting classics lie and creating new art?

Hollywood is extraordinarily risk-averse, somewhat understandable when staking hundreds of millions on a project.

Therefore a pitch that already has a reasonable expectation of a head start in terms of audience is obviously appealing.

Any true innovation is, as realistically it has been since maybe the 1970s, in the realms of the Indy film makers, or maybe the streaming platforms to a lesser extent.

Considering how difficult it is to lose money on a movie, even a flop, with all the crazy accounting that happens in Hollywood. I don't think it is fear of losing money.