Highlander Reboot Might Film This Year

After more than a decade trapped in development hell, the Highlander reboot might finally be on the way. According to Deadline, production on the movie will start this year with John Wick director Chad Stahelski calling the shots.

Released back in 1986, Highlander introduced us to the world of the immortals who must do battle with each other until only one is left standing. Directed by Russell Mulcahy, Christopher Lambert starred a Highlander Connor Mcloud (of the Clan Mcloud) who discovers he’s an immortal after he recovers from a mortal wound in battle. Exiled by his kinsman, Mcloud is taken under the wing of fellow immortal Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez (Sean Connery) who schools Connor in the ways of the immortals.

Featuring a rocking soundtrack provided by Queen, Highlander wasn’t a success upon its theatrical release grossing just $12 million against a production budget of $19 million. However, a little invention called VHS gave Highlander a second life, and over the years the movie garnered a loyal cult following. The subsequent four sequels, TV series, and anime spin-off expanded the mythology but failed to recapture the magic of the first movie.

I’ll grant you that it’s still weird that famed Scotsman Sean Connery playing an Egyptian, but is it any more weird than Frenchman Christopher Lambert playing a Scotsman. It was the 80s after all. Accents aside, Highlander has huge potential for a reboot, and Stahelski had this to say about the project when he spoke to Digital Spy last year;

“I love the original, I know it’s dated in certain ways but I love the vibe and the mythology. So, my take on it would be to somehow maintain the vibe and mythology and feeling of the first movie. Not go off the rails with too much plot, and really develop the world of the immortals.

I don’t care what the mortals are doing, I want to be invested in the immortal world and hold true to the original as much as I can.”

Before Stahelski takes on Highlander, he’ll reunite with Keanu Reeves for John Wick Chapter 3 which is set for release on May 17, 2019.