A little over a year ago, it was reported that Henry Cavill, actor in The Witcher and Superman, was in discussions to take on the role of Jamie Fraser in a new Highlander film. The announcement made perfect sense, given the British actor’s track record as an action hero in films such as The Man from U.N.C.L.E. & Mission: Impossible – Fallout, as well as his role in The Witcher, which adds an element of epic fantasy that is essential to the Highlander mythos. Although the Highlander project is still in its infancy, Steve Weintraub recently spoke with Chad Stahelski, the only confirmed cast member.
John Wick director Chad Stahelski gave a brief update on the development of the Highlander remake while promoting his friend and fellow stuntman J.J. Perry’s directorial debut Day Shift. In 1986, Christopher Lambert starred as Connor MacLeod, an immortal from the 16th century, in the first Highlander film. The film revolves around a battle between two eternal warriors who have been at each other’s throats for millennia, trying to drain each other’s strength until there is “just one.”
There can only be one Highlander, although there was more than one film in the series. The 1990s saw the release of Highlander II and Highlander III as a result of the first film’s popularity, and the turn of the millennium saw the debut of Highlander: Endgame. Adrian Paul portrayed Duncan MacLeod, the protagonist of the original Highlander: The Series (which ran for six seasons and generated several ill-fated spinoffs in the ’90s) in the fourth film. Despite Stahleski’s busy schedule (he’s working on the John Wick films, adapting Ghost of Tsushima, and developing Shibumi for Warner Bros. ), the Highlander picture for Lionsgate appears to be making headway. For Stahleski: There are several adjustments to be made. For the major part, I think we have a good idea of what we want. We have a clear vision of the product we intend to create. You’ll need to use your imagination for this. The intent is not lost on us. To get to the point where we feel, “It’s finally come down to this. Ok, let’s get going.” However, our relationship is stronger than it has ever been.
The most pressing issue is whether or not Henry Cavill will appear in the film. Although the future of his work as Superman is uncertain as Warner Bros. experiences growing pains after Discovery’s acquisition of the studio, Cavill is in high demand as an actor and is currently filming on location in Poland as the title character of The Witcher, where he swings a sword and kills monsters. Stahleski has been in contact with Cavill, who he calls “one of my key choices,” regarding the project.
He elaborated by saying, “Muscles and a stoic demeanour aren’t the only prerequisites. I believe he has extraordinary versatility and could add a lot to the team. As a plus, his dedication to the project has been inspiring.” Nothing is definite at this point, but it does appear like the Highlander movie is headed on the correct path. Stahleski is the ideal choice to direct a new Highlander film because of his experience with the John Wick films and his talent for filming intense action scenes.