News about a reboot of a beloved Hollywood franchise is never too far away. Lionsgate’s revamp of theHighlanderseries is slowly moving forward, withJohn Wick’s Chad Stahelskiconfirmed for the director’s chair andMan of Steel’s Henry Cavill being eyed for the lead role, of which there can be only one.
It’s still possible that this incarnation of the project won’t come to fruition, because a reboot of theHighlanderfranchise has languished in development hell for years. At one point,Fast & Furiousdirector Justin Linwas attached to direct. Over the years, Tom Cruise, Ryan Reynolds, and Dave Bautista have all been rumored for roles in a newHighlandermovie. However, with Stahelski and Cavill both at the height of their game right now, this version seems likely to finally make it to screens.
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The script for the newHighlandermovie has been penned by Kerry Williamson, whose previous screenwriting credits include theAlex Crossmovie starring Tyler Perry and Netflix’s dystopian sci-fi thrillerWhat Happened to Monday, so she’s no stranger to action-driven storytelling or playing in a genre sandbox. Neal H. Moritz and Josh Davis are on board to produce the reboot, as was the original movie’s producer Peter Davis before he passed away last February.
TheHighlanderseries was initially launched in 1986 with the original movie,starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Conneryin the story of a band of immortal warriors battling it out for a lucrative title. Although the movie bombed at the box office, grossing just over $12 million against a $19 million budget, it amassed enough of a cult fan base to kickstart a long-running franchise. It’s since spawned four sequels, three TV series, and an animated spin-off, and the catchphrase “There can be only one” is so prevalent in popular culture that even people who don’t know the movie know its tagline.
The plot of the new movie is currently unknown, as is the part that Cavill will play. It could either be a straight remake of the 1986 original, with Cavill taking on Lambert’s role, or Cavill could play a brand-new character in an original story set in the familiarHighlanderuniverse. Either can be successful in today’s franchise-obsessed filmmaking landscape.
With Warner Bros. announcingthe development of a new Superman moviefrom producer J.J. Abrams and screenwriter Ta-Nehisi Coates, it appears that Cavill’s days as the DCEU’s Clark Kent are numbered. Still, the actor is hardly struggling to find work. In addition to possibly starring in theHighlanderreboot, he’ll be reprising two of his past roles for Netflix. He’ll be playing Geralt of Rivia inthe second season ofThe Witcherand Sherlock Holmes alongside Millie Bobby Brown in the announcedEnola Holmessequel.
