Dave Bautista and Henry Cavill Will Clash in Upcoming ‘Highlander’ Reboot

Dave Bautista is set to play the villain in the upcoming reboot of Highlander, directed by Chad Stahelski. Henry Cavill will star as Connor MacLeod, an immortal known as a Highlander who discovers his true nature.

Bautista will take on the role of the Kurgan, another immortal who has been hunting down Highlanders for centuries. This new cast is shaping up to be just as exciting as the original 1986 film, which starred Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, and Clancy Brown.

The casting news was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, and it’s just one part of a reboot that’s been in the works for years. Back in 2008, Summit Entertainment bought the rights to remake the original movie, with plans for a film titled Highlander: The Reckoning. Over the years, several directors and writers have been attached, including Justin Lin, Melissa Rosenberg, and Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, but the project faced many changes and delays.

Producer Neal H. Moritz explained the approach to the reboot by saying, “we want to stay true to the mythologies as a whole of the Highlander series… while presenting the new version for old and new fans of the franchise.”

Despite some setbacks, the film has continued to move forward with different creative teams involved. Chad Stahelski, known for directing the John Wick movies, was confirmed as director in 2016, and the script is now written by Mike Finch. What’s interesting is that Dave Bautista was first cast as The Kurgan back in 2015, but the project kept evolving.

Henry Cavill’s involvement was announced in 2021, though his role wasn’t revealed until later. In 2025, Russell Crowe joined the cast as Ramirez, the mentor to MacLeod. The production has a big budget, reportedly over $100 million, and is being produced by a team including Joshua Davis, Neal Moritz, Chad Stahelski, and Louise Rosner.

Lionsgate, which owns Summit Entertainment, planned to promote the film at the 2023 American Film Market, aiming to begin filming in early 2024. More recently, Amazon MGM Studios and Scott Stuber took over the project under the United Artists banner.

This reboot promises to bring new energy to the Highlander story with a fresh cast and a talented director. Fans of the original and new viewers alike can expect a thrilling mix of action and mythology when the film finally hits theaters.

News first reported by THR.

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