The “Highlander” reboot is taking shape. Director Chad Stahelski, known for the “John Wick” series, has now officially announced that the remake of the 1986 classic will be his next project. However, there is currently no date for the start of filming or a release date for the remake.
In the planned new edition, “Superman” actor Henry Cavill will also take on the leading role, following in the footsteps of Christopher Lambert, who starred as Connor MacLeod in the sci-fi historical film in the eighties. It is currently unclear who will play the characters of Sean Connery and Clancy Brown in the remake – who have to go into battle as immortals in order to gain even more power.
“We want to do something that is fresh”
US filmmaker Chad Stahelski has been associated with “Highlander” since 2016, but only now is it time to get down to business. Stahelski will not only be the director of the reboot, but will also take care of the overall creative direction thanks to a new deal with “Lionsgate”.
He told The Hollywood Reporter about his role on “Highlander”: “It’s just a tough nut to crack because the ‘Highlander’ franchise is so vast and the mythology is so deep. But trying to make it our own, stay somewhat faithful to the original and still do it in a way that makes it ours is a little tricky. We don’t want to do a remake. We don’t want to do a new edition. We want to do something that is fresh, that uses the mythology of what everyone loves from the first film.”
Trailer of the 1986 film adaptation:
What could come next
The 55-year-old director also got the go-ahead from “Lionsgate” to expand the “John Wick” universe alongside “Highlander”. The spin-off “Ballerina” will start on June 7, 2024, at least in the USA, in which a killer wants to avenge the murder of her family. “John Wick” lead actor Keanu Reeves will also have a cameo in the actioner.
After the cinema release, more films and series in the style of Chad Stahelski will follow. The studio can basically imagine this kind of story continuation for “Highlander”. However, there is no concrete information about this at this point.