The highly anticipated reboot of Highlander movie is officially moving forward at Lionsgate with Henry Cavill as lead and John Wick director Chad Stahelski set to direct. The remake will be based on the 1986 movie where Henry Cavill will play the role of the Scottish swordsman, Connor MacLeod, played by Christopher Lambert in the original film.
Lionsgate has confirmed that they will be launching sales for Highlander at AFM (American Film Market), which is scheduled to take place between Tue, Oct 31, 2023, and Sun, Nov 5, 2023. Hollywood news website, Deadline has also confirmed that the film has a budget of more than $100 million and will have action like John Wick films, but with Swords.
‘Highlander’ is currently eyeing a filming start in the first half of 2024. Mike Finch wrote the screenplay for the reboot after the late Peter S. Davis, producer of the 1986 Highlander, initiated the development of the new film. Joshua Davis, Neal H. Moritz, Louise Rosner, and Chad Stahelski are the producers of this remake.
Directed by Russell Mulcahy, the original Highlander film released in 1986 follows Connor MacLeod, born in the Scottish Highlands in the 16th century. After being badly wounded in battle by the Kurgan, he miraculously recovers and is expelled from his town on suspicion of witchcraft. MacLeod is found five years later by swordsman Ramrez (Connery), who instructs him in swordplay and reveals that they and others were born immortal, indestructible unless decapitated. Immortals fight each other in secret until only a handful are left to compete for the Prize at the Gathering. The Gathering is finally taking place in New York City in 1985, and MacLeod must guarantee that the Prize does not go to his longest foe, the bloodthirsty Kurgan.
The original film stars Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod, Sean Connery as Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez, Clancy Brown as The Kurgan, Roxanne Hart as Brenda Wyatt, and Beatie Edney as Heather MacLeod, among others. The film made $12.8 million on a budget of $19 million but became a cult classic spawning two direct sequels, and a few other TV Shows and films.
Henry Cavill is popularly known for playing the iconic superhero Superman in the DC universe and the titular role in The Witcher series on Netflix. However, after the introduction of the new DC Universe by James Gunn, Henry Cavill won't be returning as Superman in any DC films in the future. Cavill is also no longer attached to play the Witcher in the upcoming Season 4 of the Netflix action-fantasy series. He was replaced by Liam Hemsworth in a shocking turn of events, exactly one year back.