HIGHLANDER Star Siobhán Cullen Teases "Insane" Fight Scenes And A New Take On Franchise's Female Lead

HIGHLANDER Star Siobhán Cullen Teases "Insane" Fight Scenes And A New Take On Franchise's Female Lead

Irish actress Siobhán Cullen has hyped up her female lead role in the upcoming Highlander reboot starring Henry Cavill, confirming she will be "totally different" to Roxanne Hart's Brenda.

By JoshWilding - Apr 03, 2026 12:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Fantasy
Source: Deadline (via SFFGazette.com)

Cameras are currently rolling on the Highlander reboot in the UK, and while we've seen Henry Cavill, Jeremy Irons, and Dave Bautista on set, the rest of the cast has been largely kept under wraps. We have, however, caught a glimpse of Siobhán Cullen on a motorcycle.

In an interview with Deadline (via SFFGazette.com), the Babies star opened up on her first action role. Despite being careful to not give too much away, the actress shared her belief that filmmaker Chad Stahelski is making a movie that's "definitely one for the fans."

"Some of the fighting scenes I’ve seen are just insane," Cullen continued, revealing that her take on Brenda—an NYC forensics expert suspicious of Connor MacLeod in the 1986 movie—is "totally different." Despite that, she still took "lots of inspiration" from Roxanne Hart's performance. 

"We find her at a different time in her life," the Irish actress added. "We find her getting into trouble, and when she meets Connor on a pivotal night, as a mortal, she gets swept up in the world of immortals."

"Because she is mortal in this immortal work, she’s kind of the eyes of the audience because she is being introduced into this whole new world, which totally upends her whole understanding of humanity and time and what’s possible."

"It’s exciting to work with somebody [Stahelski] who is so fluent in the language of action, and it’s like there’s this whole other script that’s happening that is parallel to our dialogue," Cullen shared. "The subtext and incredible detail to character is incredible, and I’m just a keen student."

The franchise explores Connor's centuries-old feud with his fellow powerful Immortals. The first Highlander movie followed them in a battle to the death to absorb the other's powers. In the end, there can be "only one."

It's worth noting that a leaked synopsis for Highlander mentioned that Connor will have a "mortal ally, archaeologist Kate Bennett." If that's referring to Cullen's "Brenda," then we're definitely getting a vastly different interpretation of the franchise's female lead.

Highlander, written by Michael Finch and directed by Chad Stahelski, stars Henry Cavill (Man of Steel), Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy), Russell Crowe (Kraven the Hunter), Marisa Abela (Back to Black), Karen Gillan (Avengers: Endgame), Djimon Hounsou (Shazam!), Max Zhang (Ip Man 3), and WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre. 

The movie isn't expected to be released until 2027, but with production well underway, we'll likely see more from Highlander as the year continues.

About The Author:
JoshWilding
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DocSpock
DocSpock - 4/3/2026, 12:27 AM

Fingers crossed. This could be great.

dragon316
dragon316 - 4/3/2026, 8:24 AM
@DocSpock - never know until people see it and your self to see it
Bucky74
Bucky74 - 4/3/2026, 9:35 AM
@DocSpock - I love the original and the series. I was such a fan that I trained in Japanese and German long sword (HEMA) for almost a decade when I was younger.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 4/3/2026, 10:53 AM
@dragon316 -

True. I may binge drinky binge all the previous Highlander stuff just to be ready.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 4/3/2026, 10:57 AM
@Bucky74 -

I didn't know training existed for such things. I train heavily in firearms just in case a guy comes at me with a sword.
Bucky74
Bucky74 - 4/3/2026, 1:56 PM
@DocSpock - Lol, Google HEMA, it's pretty big. My former sword instructor, who recently passed (also Google Michael Edleson, if you become interested in HEMA training at all), was ex-military and also into competitive shooting.
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 4/3/2026, 2:34 AM
"female"
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Fogs
Fogs - 4/3/2026, 4:19 AM
Lemme have a wild guess here: she ends up finding out she's also an immortal after getting 'killed' by the villain.
Bucky74
Bucky74 - 4/3/2026, 9:37 AM
@Fogs - I hope they don’t go that route but you’re probably completely right. I want a three or four pic epic with Cavil’s Conner ultimately winning the prize.
FinnishDude
FinnishDude - 4/3/2026, 5:29 AM
This remake deserves the reaction 2016's Ghostbusters got far more than that movie ever did.
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 4/3/2026, 8:18 AM
@FinnishDude - But it's got a mostly male cast, why would a bunch of internet misogynist losers review bomb it?
Fogs
Fogs - 4/3/2026, 10:16 AM
@FinnishDude - Even if it's good?
FinnishDude
FinnishDude - 4/3/2026, 11:29 AM
@Fogs - There's currently no hints of it having any chance of being good. Ok, Bautista will probably kill it, but great villains rarely save otherwise bad movies.
Astroman
Astroman - 4/3/2026, 4:54 PM
@FinnishDude - the 2016 Ghostbusters was garbage and let’s not pretend otherwise for girl power or whatever else you got. It was bad. A good all girl Ghostbusters could be made but it wasn’t.
FinnishDude
FinnishDude - 4/3/2026, 4:56 PM
@Astroman - And this Highlander remake is not going to be any better
Astroman
Astroman - 4/3/2026, 4:58 PM
@FinnishDude - you may be right. Still, I’m planning to find out. Just like I gave GB 2016 a chance. I am more optimistic this will be better than that but we shall see.
DrServo
DrServo - 4/4/2026, 7:46 AM
@FinnishDude - You have absolutely no basis upon which to make that claim. It's conjecture, nothing more. Stop hating just for the sake of doing so.
FinnishDude
FinnishDude - 4/4/2026, 9:32 AM
@DrServo - This is a movie that has been in the development hell for a decade or so, and those kind of movies typically escape from said hell as the most uninspired version of themselves, it has a lead, who has never given a good performance and has tanked every single movie he has been the lead in, the director's one and only talent is filming above average fight scenes, not telling memorable stories or having compelling visuals outside of said fight scenes, and they are already making a big deal about how the movie is going to be just a start for a franchise, without a definitive ending, because that approach has never landed with a thud.
TK420
TK420 - 4/3/2026, 6:34 AM
sounds like twilight w/immortals. i guess macleod and the kurgen are gonna fight over her?
emeraldtaurus
emeraldtaurus - 4/3/2026, 7:19 AM
I think this will be good, they really took their time with it, I have hope in my heart.
Bucky74
Bucky74 - 4/3/2026, 9:40 AM
@emeraldtaurus - And Queen! “Just one year of love…”

No way Batista comes close to Clancy Brown though. There can be only one
emeraldtaurus
emeraldtaurus - 4/3/2026, 12:45 PM
@Bucky74 - I was thinking Michael Shannon or John Cena, but Bautista will do
Bucky74
Bucky74 - 4/3/2026, 2:00 PM
@emeraldtaurus - Clancy Brown was 25. Maybe prime WWE Batista, but for an ageless immortal, he looks way too old and small now. For Kurgen, someone really big who oozes charisma would have worked better, I think.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/3/2026, 7:41 AM
Wait , I thought Marisa Abela was the female lead of the film since I’m pretty sure it was reported as such when she was cast?.

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However if Brenda and this archaeologist character , Dr Kate Bennett are different characters then Marisa could be playing her but we’ll see.

Anyway , her comments sound good so looking forward to seeing the film and the action aswell since I’m sure it’s very well executed given Chad Stahelski & his team’s work on the John Wick films!!.
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 4/3/2026, 8:19 AM
This oughta be fun. It's not like the source material was Citizen Kane or anything. At least the Scottish lead won't have a French accent this time . . .
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/3/2026, 8:28 AM
@Clintthahamster - lol

I saw it fairly recently and thought it was enjoyable with its style & atmosphere especially being a highlight so I hope they retain some of that atleast.
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 4/3/2026, 8:44 AM
@TheVisionary25 - Oh, it's a [frick]ing blast, it's just not, you know, good. My buddy and I were talking about Flash Gordon the other night, same vibe. High concept, high production value, and just kind of generally high.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/3/2026, 8:57 AM
@Clintthahamster - lol yep

It’s also so 80’s that it’s kinda endearing.
FinnishDude
FinnishDude - 4/3/2026, 11:30 AM
@Clintthahamster - Of course the original Highlander was no Citizen Kane, because that movie had been made already.
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 4/3/2026, 11:51 AM
@FinnishDude - Right, just an idiom meaning that one shouldn't be compared to the other. The original Highlander is perfect in every way, it's just not high art. As long as this remake/reboot/whatever is big, dumb fun, I'd say mission accomplished.
FinnishDude
FinnishDude - 4/3/2026, 12:00 PM
@Clintthahamster - I'm sure you don't mean that in an a-hole way, but I hate that attitude around "lesser genres". Yeah, Highlander has obviously flaws, but so does Citizen Kane, and it has spectacular visual filmmaking, actors giving their roles the right kind of energy, great soundtrack, cool action, well timed comedy and genuinely emotional moments.

Besides being an urban fantasy/action movie, rather than serious drama, what about the quality of the original Highlander means that a remake should be excused for probably being mediocre action slop?
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 4/3/2026, 12:24 PM
@FinnishDude - Make no mistake, many of my favorite movies are B- and C-grade genre pictures. Highlander is wonderful. But the soundtrack is poorly integrated and jarring at times; the special effects were adequate for the time, but certainly not groundbreaking; the male leads were a Scotsman playing a Spaniard and a Frenchman playing a Scotsman, with hammy delight. And that's all fine, and, for me, part of the appeal at the end of the day. I'm not a snob by any measure, but I do think it's a worthwhile exercise to make a distinction between arthouse cinema and popcorn flicks.

All that to say, nothing forgives or excuses mediocre slop, but–for me–the genre and the source material mean that I'll give the film's flaws a lot of grace as long as it's ultimately a fun time at the movies.
MuadDib
MuadDib - 4/3/2026, 9:16 AM
Huge Highlander fan, with surprisingly low expectations of this remake. I hope it’s amazing. But too many odd choices and differences from the original to have high confidence that it’s going to be. I’d hate for it to flop, so I wholeheartedly hope it’s a great movie and spawns a whole new franchise. But I have doubts. Only time will tell.
Fogs
Fogs - 4/3/2026, 10:46 AM
@MuadDib - I loved the series. Wouldn't miss a single ep back then.
ModernAudience
ModernAudience - 4/3/2026, 11:19 AM
Love the og and excited for this to be good and make bank. Cavill needs a win
FinnishDude
FinnishDude - 4/3/2026, 11:31 AM
@ModernAudience - Cavill needs to start actually playing to have a chance at ever winning.
Astroman
Astroman - 4/3/2026, 4:56 PM
"Because she is mortal in this immortal work, she’s kind of the eyes of the audience because she is being introduced into this whole new world, which totally upends her whole understanding of humanity and time and what’s possible."

I’m choosing to take a leap this quote, if you squint just right, means no dumb alien prison sentence BS back story.

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