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Russell Crowe has officially signed on to star alongside Henry Cavill in the upcoming Highlander reboot, Collider reports. Directed by Chad Stahelski, known for the John Wick movies, this new version of Highlander is finally moving forward after nearly a decade in development, with filming planned to start this fall.
Stahelski has shared that this reboot won’t simply retell the 1986 original. Instead, it will expand the story, taking it from the Scottish Highlands in the 1500s to modern cities like New York and Hong Kong. He described the movie as action-packed and said it will include a love story, “but not how you think.”
The journey to this point has been long and complicated. Summit Entertainment acquired the rights back in 2008, and over the years, many writers, directors, and actors were attached and then left the project. Directors like Justin Lin, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, and Cedric Nicolas-Troyan were all involved at different times.
Big names like Ryan Reynolds were linked to the lead role, and actors like Dave Bautista were rumored for the villain role of The Kurgan, but none of those versions made it to production.
Things picked up steam after Stahelski came on board as director in 2016. Henry Cavill entered talks to star in 2021, and by 2023, his role was confirmed. Recently, Russell Crowe joined the cast to play Ramirez, an important character in the story.
Lionsgate, which owns Summit Entertainment, announced the project is moving forward with a budget exceeding $100 million. The screenplay is by Mike Finch, and production was expected to begin in early 2024. There are also reports that Amazon MGM Studios and Scott Stuber are close to taking over distribution under the United Artists label.
From all the details released so far, this reboot seems set to respect the original while offering a fresh take. With Stahelski directing and stars like Cavill and Crowe involved, fans can expect a lot of action and new surprises.
I’m curious how this reboot will balance staying true to the classic and bringing something new. What do you think about Russell Crowe joining the cast? Are you looking forward to Henry Cavill’s version of the immortal warrior? Share your thoughts in the comments below!