Henry Cavill assures fans of the Highlander franchise that the upcoming reboot will go “deeper” than the original film and the popular TV show that followed it.
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Speaking with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Cavill opened up on his fandom of the Highlander franchise and how he wants to do right by its legacy. However, he believes the reboot film will provide moviegoers with more depth and story than the original version, engaging fans along the way. “Obviously, I watched them when I was a lot younger, and have since rewatched. But also the TV show. I really enjoyed the lore behind it. That 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,” Cavill said.
Related Reminiscing about his 1986 cult classic, original Highlander director Russell Mulcahy explains how Sean Connery nearly lost his head in a sword fight.
Cavill also addressed recent comments from director Chad Stahelski that the Highlander reboot movie will honor the original 1986 film and the TV series, which ran from 1992 to 1998. The British actor praised the reboot script, penned by John Wick: Chapter 4‘s Michael Finch, suggesting it will take worthwhile risks with the story it aims to tell. “I can’t speak to [the reboot embracing TV lore] at the moment. What they’ve done so far and what we’re doing with the development of the script is extraordinary. I think people are gonna be really, really pleased,” he said. “Big swings are important. You play it safe and you go, ‘Eh, I guess it was fine.’ But you take a big swing, and people love it. Or they hate it, and sometimes hating it is just as good.”
The Highlander reboot was confirmed last October after considerable speculation, with the movie greenlit by Lionsgate and subsequently ramping up pre-production following the conclusion of the SAG-AFTRA strike. The fantasy action-adventure film will be the first Highlander feature-length title since 2007’s Highlander: The Source. Though Cavill has yet to confirm his role in the Highlander reboot, he is expected to star as Connor MacLeod, the franchise’s main character.
Related The new Highlander will be a reimagining, but at least one aspect of the original film will return.
How Will the Highlander Reboot Compare to the Original?
Cavill’s upcoming reboot hopes to improve upon the original, which was a box-office bomb at the time of its release and received mixed reviews. However, the original garnered critical favor upon reevaluation, particularly its concepts and performances by Christopher Lambert, who played MacLeod in the film, and Sean Connery.
For Cavill, the Highlander reboot, which begins filming this year, is part of an increasingly busy schedule as he’s currently promoting the spy action comedy, Argylle, which has struggled for critical and box-office success. He is also set to work on the upcoming Warhammer 40,000 live-action TV adaptation for Amazon.
The Highlander reboot is expected to premiere in 2026, though no official release window has been confirmed as yet by Lionsgate.
Source: Happy Sad Confused
Connor MacLeod was born in Glenfinnan in the Scottish Highlands in the 16th century. MacLeod is one of a number of immortals empowered by an energy called the Quickening and only able to die if beheaded.
