Highlanderfans have been patiently awaiting a reboot since as far back as 2008. Thankfully, because we’re not all immortal and can’t wait forever,John Wickdirector Chad Stahelski has now teamed up withThe WitcherandMan of SteelstarHenry Cavilltobring theHighlandersaga back to screens in 2026.While we await further updates on the project,a new concept trailer has emerged depicting what the Cavill-led remake could look like.
The former Superman actor is pretty much unanimously accepted as a great choice for the lead role of Connor MacLeod, a 16th-century Scottish warrior who discovers he’s immortal, but there has not yet been anyone cast in the role of the main villain, The Kurgan. Played with aplomb by Clancy Brown in the 1986 original, the concept trailer byKH Studiorecasts the role perfectly for the reboot, puttingGuardians of the GalaxyandDunestarDave Bautistain the menacing armor.
You can check out the concept trailer, which incorporates “various effects, sound design, AI technologies, movie analytics, and other elements,” for theHighlanderreboot below.
TheHighlanderreboot is expected to follow a similar plot to the 1986 original, which follows swordsman Connor MacLeod as he discovers that he is one of a number of immortal warriors who can be killed only by beheading. After living somewhat peacefully for several centuries, MacLeod settles in New York City and is soon dragged back onto the battlefield when his greatest enemy returns to kill him and thus obtain “the Prize.”
Highlander Reboot Will Delve ‘Deeper’ Into the Plight of the Immortal
Highlanderis a now atop priority for Lionsgate and Chad Stahelski, and while there are scarce details about the movie at present, lead star Henry Cavill has teased how the movie will delve much “deeper” into the lore of the immortal warriors than any previous iteration of the franchise.
“I’m gonna have to answer that very carefully. I was a Highlander fan. They were great fun movies. Obviously, I watched them when I was a lot younger, and since rewatched. But also the TV show. I really enjoyed the lore behind it. That sort of sense of a tragic warrior, with more of a story to tell than just a cool guy with a cool sword doing cool things. And this goes even deeper into that.”
Highlander: Every Film in the Franchise, Ranked
The Highlander series taught us to never lose your head and there can only be one.
Stahelski, meanwhile, has already demonstrated his affinity time and again in thehugely successfulJohn Wickseries. And he plans to do it again as he makes the shift from guns to swords.
“We’ve dug up some of the best sword people I’ve ever met in my life in the last six months, that are helping us. It’s more about how do you bring it all together and make it something…It’s not Princess Bride, it’s not Crouching Tiger, it’s not Master & Commander, it’s not Zorro. What’s this new look of action or sword fighting that people could be excited about? That keeps me up at night.”
Speaking of swords, audiences have seen Cavill wield one before in the Netflix seriesThe Witcher. But, according to the actor,Highlanderwill be even better, with Cavill saying, “If you thought you’d seen me do sword work before, you haven’t seen anything yet.”
