A Legend Rises Again
“There can be only one!” The Highlander reboot despite delays is still progressing — and this time, the reboot isn’t just ambitious, it’s built on blockbuster momentum. With Chad Stahelski ( Director of John Wick fame) at the helm, and the backing of Amazon MGM / United Artists, this isn’t a modest reimagining — it’s a full-scale epic rebirth.
Casting That Commands the Screen
An ensemble cast has been gathered for this “Quickening”. We are talking legendary attachments:
- Henry Cavill as Connor MacLeod — the immortal at the center of it all.
- Dave Bautista as The Kurgan — resurrecting the iconic villainous force with brutal magnitude.
- Russell Crowe as Ramirez — stepping into Sean Connery’s legacy of mentor and guide.
- Drew McIntyre as Angus MacLeod, Connor’s brother — adding familial conflict and muscle to the mythos.
- Karen Gillan as Heather, the mortal wife of Connor — a pivotal emotional anchor in the legend’s human cost.
- Jeremy Irons recently cast in an unnamed villainous role
- Max Zhang (Zhang Jin) Chinese legendary Martial Arts actor cast in a mystery role
- Marisa Abela cast as a new immortal character, a sword-teacher previously romantically tied to Connor MacLeod.
- Djimon Hounsou cast as an immortal warrior from Africa, though whether he will align with or oppose Connor is not yet confirmed.
Gillan’s casting is notable not just for her star quality, but for her Scottish roots — she quipped that “my dialect coach can sit this one out.” In the original Highlander, Heather’s arc underlined how immortality isolates its heroes — now Gillan gets to shape that emotional weight in this new chapter.
The Director’s Sword
Stahelski is no stranger to choreographed violence and cinematic style. His promise: duels that feel gritty, real, intense, and emotionally anchored — not just flashy. With Michael Finch (co-writer on John Wick: Chapter 4 and Predators) scripting, we can expect the mythic action to be grounded in character.
Production Delays & The Road Ahead
The reboot was initially targeting late 2025 for production, but Henry Cavill sustained a training injury — pushing principal photography back into early 2026. Scotland remains the expected locale for much of the shoot, with sprawling highland vistas already pegged as integral to the visual epic.
No firm release date is locked in yet, but given the scale and timeline, insiders point toward a 2027–2028 global debut.
Why This Reboot Matters
Here’s where Highlander could succeed where others stumble:
- Elevated action pedigree — with Stahelski directing and major combat stars in place, expect swords to feel as visceral as bullets.
- Emotional depth — with Gillan’s Heather in the mix, we get not just duels, but human stakes: love, loss, mortality.
- Franchise potential — this isn’t meant to be a one-off. With UA + MGM behind it, the stage is set for a reinvigorated Highlander world.
If Highlander re-emerges convincingly with this cast, it’s not just a reboot — it’s a statement: the immortal myth deserves to be seen and heard again and a Highlander Universe could be born.