Henry Cavill's Highlander Revival: Director Sheds Light on Authentic Franchise Tribute

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Director Chad Stahelski is passionate about the Highlander franchise and sees endless opportunities to explore its mythology on screen.

Stahelski's participation in the Highlander reboot is regarded as a significant and pivotal undertaking, highlighting his prowess beyond merely being an action director.

Furthermore, Stahelski has also secured involvement in a film adaptation of Ghost of Tsushima, displaying his versatility as a filmmaker.

After undergoing seven years of development, the Highlander reboot is finally gaining momentum as director Chad Stahelski provides new insights into his unique vision for the project. Released in 1986, the fantasy action film introduced audiences to a secret world of immortals that dates back to the 16th century. These powerful beings engage in an ongoing battle throughout the centuries, all in pursuit of a mysterious ultimate Prize. Stahelski, renowned for his impressive stunt work and directing the successful John Wick franchise, took on the challenge of reimagining this iconic series in 2016. Recently, Cavill joined the cast in 2021, further enhancing the excitement surrounding the reboot.

During an exclusive interview with Our website, which focused on the Oscars campaign for John Wick: Chapter 4, Stahelski was asked to elaborate on his vision for the Highlander reboot. With great passion, the director explained his long-standing desire to be involved with the franchise, stating that he has yearned for "more Highlander" in his life over the past two decades. Stahelski firmly believes that the mythology of Highlander offers endless possibilities for exploration on the big screen. Discover what Stahelski shared about his vision below:

If you're a fan at all, you know about the TV shows and the mythology there, the things that worked in the feature aspect of the franchise, what didn't. I would like to think that I am bringing a realization of the potential that we all see in that franchise. Now, we probably don't love all the other ancillary stuff that has come out of it, but we love its potential. There isn't an episode of the TV show that I didn't watch hoping for more or wanting more. That's not to say they did a good or bad job, just that I want more. For whatever reason, 20 years later, I still want more Highlander. I think that the franchise, with its mythology of people going through the centuries and the burden of immortality as well as the wish fulfillment of immortality, offers some of the most romantic, interesting, and existential elements I have ever seen. It's a playground for everything that I love about the John Wick series, and everything that I cannot do in the John Wick series because I'm dealing with mortals, so it provides me with another realm to explore. Therefore, I view it as a natural evolution of worldbuilding, with more potential than any other property I am connected to. And I am well aware of that, so hopefully, that's where I'll focus my energies and whatever talent I possess.

The Highlander Reboot Is Stahelski's Most Important Project Yet

Despite Cavill's recent foray into the fantasy action genre with the highly popular Netflix series The Witcher, the Highlander reboot is poised to be one of Stahelski's most significant and ambitious undertakings yet. Before his directorial debut with the John Wick franchise, Stahelski established himself as a renowned Stunt and Fight Coordinator, honing his skills in the genre through notable projects like Zack Snyder's 300, the Wachowskis-produced Ninja Assassin, and his uncredited work on Season of the Witch starring Nicolas Cage and 47 Ronin featuring Keanu Reeves.

Stahelski's direction of Highlander will serve as better evidence of his skill beyond just an action director, despite his previous experience. With his previous work limited to the four John Wick movies, Stahelski has demonstrated his talent in worldbuilding and creating thrilling action sequences. Although critics had some concerns about the later sequels' focus on bigger action at the expense of character development, John Wick: Chapter 4 showcased his ability to manage multiple storylines while still delivering the expected action that audiences anticipate from the franchise led by Reeves. In doing so, the film explored themes of guilt and existentialism, which are frequently contemplated in the Highlander franchise.

In addition to wrapping up the mainline John Wick franchise, Stahelski has a number of exciting projects lined up, including a Highlander reboot and a movie adaptation of Ghost of Tsushima. The latter collaboration with PlayStation Productions has been in the works since early 2021. While the filming of Highlander, starring Cavill, is expected to start in 2024, it will be intriguing to observe how Stahelski incorporates the lessons learned from the fantasy film into his samurai-centric endeavor.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I am incredibly excited about the upcoming Highlander reboot. The original film is a cult classic, and I believe that Stahelski is the perfect director to bring the franchise back to life. He has a proven track record of success with the John Wick franchise, and I am confident that he will be able to create a new Highlander film that is both faithful to the original and appealing to modern audiences.

I am also excited to see Henry Cavill in the role of Connor MacLeod. Cavill is a talented actor, and I believe that he will bring a lot of charisma and energy to the role. I am also curious to see how Stahelski will incorporate the mythology of the original film into the new movie. The Highlander franchise has a rich history, and I am eager to see how Stahelski will explore it in the new film.