According to director Chad Stahelski, the Highlander reboot will use the Queen songs from the original. Though long in development, the Henry Cavill starring fantasy recently received some promising news. Deadline reported that the movie was now currently up for sale by Lionsgate and hoping to start production by 2024. In other words, it looks like the Highlander reboot will happen.
Speaking with TheWrap recently about John Wick 4, Stahelski also says the reboot will feature the Queen songs made famous in the original. As most readers will be aware, the soundtrack for Highlander was essentially a Queen album and many songs were written specifically for the movie. Most famously, songs like A Kind Of Magic and Who Wants To Live Forever. Frankly, if Stahelski had said the opposite, I would be immediately less excited about the reboot.
Stahelski was asked directly if the Queen songs would be used by TheWrap?
“Yes! Probably in a different way than you think, but hardcore yes.”
The director then went on to talk about some of his goals for this re-imagining of Highlander.
“We’re trying to encapsulate everything you loved about the original with more – meaning we want to ground it, we want it to be a great chance at world-building and mythology. But we still want to keep it fun,” Stahelski said. “It’s like the ‘Wick’ movies. You want to experience this world, you want to believe it’s real. But it’s also five degrees off from reality. This is a movie with immortals running around chopping each others’ heads off. There’s a certain ridiculousness to it. It’s like the ‘Wick’s. We ride the tone. Everybody in the movie thinks its real. But we as an audience can get our heads around it – look, suspend disbelief. We’re trying to get you on board for this amazing journey with people who have lived hundreds of years. It’s a challenge. But I’m very excited.”
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I’m excited by this reboot, yet I’m also slightly jealous. As a kid I loved the concept of Highlander far more than the movie itself. Don’t get me wrong, I love the original, but it’s also cheap as chips and Lambert can’t act his way out of a paper bag. The idea though was one that genuinely always captured my attention, and my imagination. I genuinely had my own trilogy of movies mapped out for a Highlander reboot many years ago. However, since I’m not actually in the business, I’m glad someone is taking it on board for real.
Rebooting Highlander, especially with a popular star like Cavill could potentially surpass the original and it’s rare that that happens in Hollywood.
Fan Casting
Outside of Connor who will clearly be played by Cavill, I’d love to see David Tenant as Ramirez the very Spanish influenced Egyptian who trains Connor. I mean, it has to be a Scottish actor, right? For a start Tennant’s range means he could pull off different accents, and he’s also slim and wiry. In other words it will be a nice juxtaposition when he kicks Cavill’s butt early on. I also believe Ramirez is criminally under-explored in the old franchise. Why would one Immortal, instead of killing Connor and taking his power, decide to train him and give up his life to defend him? That backstory and the origins of the Immortals is a hook that was never paid off. Well, not until the 10th non-canon sequel that spawned from the TV series.
As for the other main character, the Kurgen. My pick is, if he’s willing to play a villain, Jason Momoa. Friend of Cavill’s and size wise matches up the physicality angle. Plus we know Momoa can play crazy anarchist and that’s what Kurgen is. He should be the Dark Lord in this fantasy movie. Only question is, would he cost too much money?
There also has to be a love interest in the past and the present. However, for now I have no one specific in my minds eye. Could also have some great cameos in this movie if actors were willing as old Immortal friends of Connor, or rivals.
What do you think of director Chad Stahelski’s comments that his Highlander reboot will use the Queen songs from the original? Thoughts below as always.
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