Chad Stahelski's Next Project Will Be HIGHLANDER Starring MAN OF STEEL's Henry Cavill

Chad Stahelski's Next Project Will Be HIGHLANDER Starring MAN OF STEEL's Henry Cavill

Chad Stahelski is officially set to direct Lionsgate's Highlander reboot as his next project, and Man of Steel star Henry Cavill has been confirmed to play the lead role...

By MarkCassidy - Jan 17, 2024 07:01 PM EST
Filed Under: Sci-Fi
Source: Via SFF Gazette

There can be only one.

After being stuck in development hell for almost a decade, we recently got word that the Highlander reboot is finally moving forward, and it sounds like there are big plans in place for the sci-fi/action revival.

John Wick director Chad Stahelski has been attached to helm for years, and we now have confirmation that Highlander will be his next project. THR is also reporting that the filmmaker has singed a new deal with Lionsgate that will see him take charge of both the Highlander and John Wick franchises across the big and small screens.

“This deal expands on the great creative relationship we already have in place on John Wick and extends it to our Highlander franchise,” said Joe Drake, the outgoing chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group and Adam Fogelson, chair of the MPG. “From the outset, Chad has been the creative force defining the world of Wick; as we continue to think about the future for that world, we want Chad, working together with Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee of Thunder Road, as our stewards guiding us and strategizing together at every step. This deal makes it official, and we look forward to his steady hand and creative input not just on the film he is making, but other stories that arise from it. He is a true visionary, and we are thrilled to have him in our corner.”

“I am pleased to be able to grow my relationship with Lionsgate in this new oversight role for the John Wick universe and its further expansion,” added Stahelski. “John Wick is so close to my heart and to be able to continue shepherding it will be a blast for me. I’m so happy to also be launching another franchise with Highlander, a world that is so rich with engaging stories to be told.”

The report also makes Henry Cavill's involvement official, with the Man of Steel star on board to play the lead role.

Whether the main character will be a new take on Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) or a brand-new protagonist remains to be seen, but the new movie is expected to stick to the basic premise of the original: A race of immortals do battle across time with the ultimate goal of emerging as the sole survivor (decapitation gets the job done) and claiming the prize of mortality.

The original Highlander spawned a series of inferior sequels and a TV show, which was mostly well-regarded by fans.

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Origame
Origame - 1/17/2024, 7:18 PM
Honestly, I think it can work. Think of anything with Donnie yen in John wick 4 for reference how it can work. Or the sword fight at the end of 3.
IvanBadski
IvanBadski - 1/17/2024, 7:26 PM
@Origame - in chad we can trust
RedFury
RedFury - 1/17/2024, 7:29 PM
Pretty excited to see how this turns out! Henry needs a solid franchise, and Highlander could be something really special with Chad at the helm.

Fingers crossed!
Goldboink
Goldboink - 1/17/2024, 8:10 PM
@RedFury -
It's like remaking Robocop. Impossible to improve on the original, with the Queen soundtrack and Sean Connery. Clancy Brown at the height of his powers.

This is a big mistake.
RedFury
RedFury - 1/17/2024, 8:19 PM
@Goldboink - I think the satirical nature of Robocop makes it a tough one to remake.

But Highlander had a successful life as a TV show, so I don't see it being unadaptable in the same sense. Plus Chad makes really cool action flicks, so at the very least it'll be an entertaining movie I think.
Steel86
Steel86 - 1/17/2024, 8:42 PM
@Goldboink - Respectfully disagree. The tv show, for the most part, had a strong story but the movies were all over the place. The actors and action made it work. Highlander imo is one of the few classics that can be better today. Queen song has to be kept!
Goldboink
Goldboink - 1/17/2024, 9:11 PM
@RedFury -
For me it's a perfect movie with an 80s vibe. NYC is a real character in that movie and that NYC no longer exists. They did crank out some product but none of it interested me.

Perfect movie, perfect ending.
Goldboink
Goldboink - 1/17/2024, 9:12 PM
@Steel86 - I've become a crusty old curmudgeon. Dont want to see my youth remade.
RedFury
RedFury - 1/17/2024, 9:50 PM
@Goldboink - that's fair! It is a really great film, no doubt about that. Here's hoping they do a new story, rather than a remake. I'd prefer something inspired by it instead of a straight up reboot. Something that stands on its own within the mythology.
Goldboink
Goldboink - 1/18/2024, 10:12 AM
@RedFury -
If they take the concept and do something original it can work. At that point why call it Highlander?
RedFury
RedFury - 1/18/2024, 11:36 AM
@Goldboink - truly they should just have it be the story that comes after rhe tv show. This way it can continue on in the continuity, but not write over all the other stuff.

Either way, I hope you enjoy whatever it turns out to be. These franchise reboots/reimaginings should cater to the fans.
Batmangina
Batmangina - 1/19/2024, 7:17 AM
@Goldboink - Interesting take.

I'm always curious when a cult classic is looked back on later - I remember it being a totally mid film with a meh reception when it came out and hit VHS.

Years later when they did all the sequels and TV show it was like WTF? I had a few friends that were [frick]ing die hard fans of the show.

Robocop hit me instantly in the theater and I probably watched it 100 times on VHS. It still holds up and the Screambox doc series is fantastic.

Cavill is okay as a actor - he's certainly a notch above Lambert - so I'm curious about this one.
Goldboink
Goldboink - 1/19/2024, 8:21 AM
@Batmangina -
I was partying hard those days and not going to the movies a lot but both of those were VHS rentals that I loved. While Lambert isn't a great actor he fit the part. Both of them are somewhat products of thier time and it wasnt' the concept that was so unique, it was the execution.

Plenty of great actors were involved in remakes that bombed. I can't see this working out but that's just me.
TheVandalore
TheVandalore - 1/17/2024, 7:36 PM
@Repian - doesn't that role have to be somewhat physically demanding?
rychlec
rychlec - 1/17/2024, 7:40 PM
Highlander seems rather similar to the Witcher. Cavil is still perfect for it but I wish he had gone in another direction. (Hercules)....obviously, I know the role wasn't offered.
Rosraf
Rosraf - 1/17/2024, 8:38 PM
@rychlec - I wonder if this is part of the reason he left Witcher. ...There can be only one...predominantly sword swinging franchise role .... at a time.
The1st
The1st - 1/18/2024, 8:38 AM
@Rosraf - Nah, totally Warhammer. I agree though...




Repian
Repian - 1/17/2024, 7:43 PM
Hiroyuki Sanada (John Wick 4) to be Masamune. He could be Connor MacLeod's master instead of Ramirez.
RegularPoochie
RegularPoochie - 1/18/2024, 3:17 AM
@Repian - I like that

GhostDog
GhostDog - 1/17/2024, 7:43 PM
They got the blandest lead for this. Should’ve aimed higher for someone like Gosling or Aaron Taylor Johnson. You can trust Stahelski to do his thing at least.
Steel86
Steel86 - 1/17/2024, 8:44 PM
@GhostDog - Bradley Cooper was my pick about 10 years ago. Henry is good when given the material. You ever seen Man from Uncle?
GhostDog
GhostDog - 1/17/2024, 9:19 PM
@Steel86 - never liked that performance. Sounded like a news man reading from a teleprompter.
Steel86
Steel86 - 1/17/2024, 10:17 PM
@GhostDog - I can't post gifs but if I could Anchorman would be greeting you right now, Lol. Canon ball!
MannyBothans
MannyBothans - 1/17/2024, 7:46 PM
"There can be only one!"


LIARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 1/17/2024, 7:54 PM
How has Cavill not been James Bond yet?
Or used his stoic performance as Supes to become the next T-800.
Repian
Repian - 1/17/2024, 7:59 PM
@lazlodaytona - are you talking about this?

vegetaray
vegetaray - 1/17/2024, 8:23 PM
@lazlodaytona - I think the Bond ship has sailed unfortunately. Maybe if Craig hadn’t stayed in the role two films too long Henry could’ve had a decent shot at it…
Rosraf
Rosraf - 1/17/2024, 8:36 PM
@Repian - Terminator franchise is beyond redemption.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 1/17/2024, 10:29 PM
@Repian - heck yeah!
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 1/17/2024, 10:31 PM
@Rosraf - That's why you ditch any kind of sequel and straight-up reboot that stuff.
StormLoganSummers
StormLoganSummers - 1/17/2024, 8:04 PM
Ooh, Henry. 🥵
Goldboink
Goldboink - 1/17/2024, 8:12 PM
@StormLoganSummers - He's going to be pissed when the drugs wear off.
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 1/17/2024, 8:32 PM
Perfect for that project, the fight choreography in John Wick is top notch, especially the fight scenes with blades.
TCronson
TCronson - 1/18/2024, 5:31 AM
@FinnishDude - wtf are you talking about, director is perfect for this.
FinnishDude
FinnishDude - 1/18/2024, 9:20 AM
@TCronson - The original Highlander is more stylized movie than a lot of people give it credit for, especially when it comes to scene transitions. Stahelski can do well choreographed action, but nothing else stands visually out from his movies.

And Cavill is just a blank of wood, especially in comparison to someone like Christopher Lambert, so he alone would kill any benefit of the doubt I would have for the movie, even if they had more interesting director.
TCronson
TCronson - 1/25/2024, 9:08 AM
@FinnishDude - who's more interesting director in your opinion?
FinnishDude
FinnishDude - 1/25/2024, 11:32 AM
@TCronson - For a Highlander remake or in general? For the latter we would be here forever, while for the former the problem is that many of the names that come to my head on the spot would be way out of the reach of of a project like this (say, Edgar Wright, Sam Raimi and Ridley Scott could all make amazing Highlander movies for different reasons, but no way in hell will that ever happen). Trying to keep it realistic, yet still more exciting than one of the John Wick guys, I would say Leigh Whannell, David Lowery, Neil Marshall and Francis Lawrence.
campblood
campblood - 1/17/2024, 8:36 PM
As someone who grew up watching those movies with my dad who loved them ( my great grandfather was a Scottish immigrant so my dad loved that angle ) I’m down for this. I love the movies too, my dad didn’t care if it was violent and had tiddies in them we happily watched them together. I loved the swords and magic and all that good 80s sword fighting with the sparks. The movies are fun man
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