Highlander Reboot: Director Chad Stahelski Discusses Henry Cavill’s Role and Vision for the Film

John Wick director Chad Stahelski has shared new details about the upcoming Highlander movie remake, which is planned to star The Witcher actor Henry Cavill. Stahelski provided insights into the film’s setting and storyline during a recent conversation, confirming that the film will take place in «beyond present-day» New York and Hong Kong. Cavill will portray a sword master who has been alive for more than 500 years, acquiring extensive martial arts skills during that time.

The Highlander franchise, which began with the cult classic 1986 film, focuses on the conflict among immortal warriors who can only be killed by beheading. The original film starred Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod, trained by Sean Connery’s Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez, and was known for its fusion of past and contemporary storylines, including the 16th-century Scottish Highlands and 1980s New York.

Although Cavill’s character’s details remain undisclosed, Stahelski hinted at the depth of the role, saying, «My selling point was, to [Henry Cavill], look, you’ve got a guy that’s been alive for over 500 years. He’s the last person in the world that wanted to be in this situation.» Stahelski emphasized the rich character development possibilities, stating, «You get to experience someone that’s trained over 500 years and sort of played [with many types of] martial arts.»

Stahelski indicated last year that the Highlander reboot has the potential to expand into a larger narrative. He mentioned, «The trick is when you have the tagline ‘there can only be one,’ you can’t just kill everybody the first time.» The director aims to integrate elements from the films and TV shows, including a prequel aspect linked to «The Gathering,» an event within the Highlander universe that compels immortal warriors to confront each other.

Henry Cavill, expressing his enthusiasm for the project, remarked, «I’ve been a fan of Highlander since I was a lad.» He noted the unique opportunity to work with director Chad Stahelski, highlighting the film’s potential to showcase unprecedented sword skills. Stahelski anticipates starting principal photography by spring 2025, targeting a film release in 2026.