Chad Stahelski promises key settings and big action in hisHighlanderreboot, along with revealing the filming window. Stahelski is best known as the talented force behind theJohn Wickfranchise, directing all four of the main franchise installments. Branching off from the tales of the Continental and the titular hitman,the director’s next big project is a reboot of the classic filmHighlander. The movie is based on the 1986 movie about an immortal Scottish swordsman who must confront the last of his opponents. TheHighlanderreboot moviewill feature Henry Cavill in the lead role.
Speaking withThe Direct, Stahelski teases the action in hisHighlanderreboot. The director begins by explaininghow thisHighlanderreboot is handling its multi-century time jumps, saying that they are “bringing it forward from the early 1500s in the highlands to the beyond present-day New York and Hong Kong.” In these time jumps, Stahelski promises that there is “big opportunity for action.” He also teases a “broad spread of a character arc” for Cavill’s lead role. Stahelski also mentioned thatHighlanderwill likely begin production “by spring” of 2025. Check out the full quote from Stahelski below:
And we’re bringing it forward from the early 1500s in the highlands to the beyond present-day New York and Hong Kong, and seeing how it goes. There’s big opportunity for action. There’s a chance to play a character that not a lot of people get to play. And it’s a bit of a love story, but not how you think. On ‘John Wick,’ I learned a lot on how to bend the storytelling a little… another kind of myth.
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. So you get to cover quite a broad spread of a character arc there. And you get to experience someone that’s trained over 500 years and sort of played [with many types of] martial arts.
What This Means For The Highlander Reboot
Highlander Will Add A Futuristic Flare
Highlanderhas always been a multi-century story. This is a byproduct of its protagonist, who is born a 16th century Scottish swordsman but, as per the original story, is living as an antique dealer in 1985 New York. Per Stahelski’s description, the setting for theHighlanderreboot will be a little different. In the original movie, 1985 was present day. Rather than setHighlanderin 2023 or 2024, however,Stahelski will go “beyond present-day,” bringing a futuristic element into the fantasy movie.
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Stahelski’s quote also reveals some of the nature of the action inHighlander. Not only does the director promise big action sequences, but he also teases howCavill’s lead has used his multi-century life to obtain “martial arts” skills from multiple eras of history.AsHighlandermoves through time and between parts of the world, it will be fascinating to see how this lead character’s fighting style evolves.
Our Take On This Highlander Update
Stahelski’s Background Prepares Him For Highlander
The martial arts element toHighlander’s action is a particularly interesting one when it comes to the epic fantasy-action reboot film. From his work on theJohn Wickmovies,Stahelski has shown how his filmmaking is influenced by styles like the Hong Kong-based gun-fu subgenre.Even in U.S. based sets, John Wick is seen fighting in this gun-fu-esque style. Setting part of the plot in Hong Kong will even further accentuate this stylized action element when it comes toHighlander.
