Director Chad Stahelski Talks ‘Highlander’ Reboot

Henry Cavill is still attached to star as the immortal warrior in the new film, which will use the concept of the 1980s action movie.

Chad Stahelski at the Lionsgate CinemaCon presentation in support of 'John Wick: Chapter Four' at the Colosseum Theatre in Caesar’s Palace on April 28th, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod in 1986's 'Highlander.'

(Left) Chad Stahelski at the Lionsgate CinemaCon presentation in support of 'John Wick: Chapter Four' at the Colosseum Theatre in Caesar’s Palace on April 28th, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Eric Charbonneau. (Right) Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod in 1986's 'Highlander.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.

The idea of rebooting 1986’s ‘Highlander’ is not a new one. It has been bubbling away on Hollywood’s development burner for a few years now, going through the usual litany of directors, writers and potential cast on its difficult journey to screens.

Along the way, the likes of Justin Lin, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and Cedric Nicolas-Troyan among those attached to direct, while Ryan Reynolds, Dave Bautista and more have been eyed to play different roles.

These days, the re-imagined take on the movie is in the hands of ‘John Wick’ veteran Chad Stahelski, who has Henry Cavill aboard to play the lead. And talking to the Happy. Sad. Confused. Podcast, Stahelski has been outlining some of his thinking for the film.

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What was the story of ‘Highlander’?

Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod in 1986's 'Highlander.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.

The 1988 original revolves around Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert), a Scottish Highlander born in the 16th Century who is somehow immortal. He has survived through the centuries, and learns from Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez (Sean Connery), that he is part of a race of many who can only die when beheaded. The power of the slain immortal is absorbed into the victor, and they are all competing for “The Prize” –– enough power to rule Earth forever. Connor’s biggest threat is the Kurgan (Clancy Brown), a murderous brute of an immortal who wants that power for himself and Connor must face him at an event known as The Gathering.

"There can," as the tagline famously reads, "be only one."

Directed by Russell Mulcahy, the first film is considered a cult classic, dividing audiences into those who love it and those who think it’s so bad it’s great. The movie is famous for its sword fights and its Queen-composed soundtrack.

It spawned several sequels and even a spin-off TV series.

Highlander

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R1 hr 56 minMar 7th, 1986

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Stahelski on his plans

(L to R) Director Chad Stahelski and Bill Skarsgård as Marquis in 'John Wick: Chapter 4.' Photo Credit: Murray Close.

Here’s what Stahelski had to say:

“‘Highlander,’ I’ll tell you, if we get our shit together and pull off a feature, we have ideas for days about the coolest characters and how to make that an epic TV show. I just think that’s a rich, rich mythology. Our story engages a lot of the same characters and stuff like that. But we’ve also brought in elements of all the TV shows, and we’re trying to do a bit of a prequel, a setup to The Gathering, so we have room to grow the property.”

Yet he adds that he’ll have to be careful:

“The trick is when you have the tagline ‘there can only be one,’ you can’t just kill everybody the first time.”

Stahelski on the 1988 movie

(L to R) Sean Connery as Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez and Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod in 1986's 'Highlander.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.

While he loves the original, he’s not above pointing out its flaws…

“There’s not a lot that happens in the second act, It’s mostly about bitchin’ flashbacks with Sean Connery mugging the camera. You watch the movie, and it has no business being good or cool or interesting, but for whatever reason — the fisheye lenses, weird sword fights, fucked up dialogue, and the Queen soundtrack make it one of the funnest movies you’ll ever watch.”

There has been little progress of late on the movie, primarily because of the combined writers and actors’ strike. But once smarter decisions have been made by the studios and the matter is resolved, Stahelski and Cavill will be ready to dive back into that world.