Henry Cavill remains true to the blade – not as a sorcerer, but as an immortal Highlander. Image source: Netflix
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A reboot of Highlander is coming and it took quite a while for the project to finally gain momentum. The remake of the immortal swordsmen was announced 16 years ago. John Wick director Chad Stahelski has been on board for eight years, and Henry Cavill for three.
Now Stahelski has officially the start of filming of Highlander and thus announced the start date of his new action franchise. For the studio Lionsgate, the filmmaker will not only continue to develop John Wick, but will also build Highlander on a large scale.
It will start in Scotland in January 2025 – as Stahelski Collider confirmed. The first Highlander film is scheduled to hit theaters sometime in 2026, but a specific release date is currently unknown.
The director brings a lot of love for Highlander
Stahelski teases what fans can expect from his Highlander reboot. This is not just a remake of the original with Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery, but also combines all sorts of elements and ideas from subsequent films and TV series. The director reveals:
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[Highlander] is a new opportunity for me to work with a brand that I love. I love what it's about. I love working on love stories about immortality through the ages. In my opinion, there is hardly a better way to combine a historical drama with sci-fi elements.
Of course, action specialist Stahelski doesn’t neglect the fights. Henry Cavill has already promised that his sword skills will surpass what his fans have seen from him in The Witcher.
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Henry Cavill shows what he can do with a sword in this action scene from The Witcher
Swords instead of firearms
Stahelski now talks about what it means to him personally to be making a film that focuses on sword fighting. In John Wick, the director showed how skillfully he stages shootings and car stunts:
[…] We have the right people and the right trainers for this. We have unearthed some of the best swordsmen I have ever met in my life over the last six months […]. Now it's about bringing all these elements together and making something out of them. [Highlander] It's not going to be The Princess Bride or Tiger & Dragon or Master & Commander or Zorro. I'm all about providing a new perspective on the action and swordplay that gets people excited. That's what keeps me up at night right now.
Highlander's budget is said to be $100 million. So far, Henry Cavill is the only known cast member of the remake. according to rumours But Michael Fassbender (Shame, Prometheus) could take on the role of the villain.