Henry Cavill’s Highlander Reboot Promises “A Lot” Of Violence In One Key Way, Teases Co-Star

Henry Cavill’s long-awaited Highlander reboot is promising to fully embrace one of the franchise’s most iconic and brutal elements.

The upcoming reboot is a fresh take on the 1986 Highlander movie, which became a cult classic, spawning four sequels: The Quickening, The Sorcerer, Endgame, and The Search for Vengeance, as well as a TV series and a dedicated following. The story follows Connor MacLeod (Cavill), a 16th-century Scottish clansman who discovers he is an immortal warrior after surviving a mortal wound​​​​​.

In a new interview with ComicBook, Cavill’s Highlander co-star Djimon Hounsou spoke about the reboot, teasing that the film will stay true to the franchise’s violent roots. Speaking about the project, Hounsou expressed confidence that longtime fans will be satisfied with the direction of the reboot, emphasizing that it will feature “a lot” of decapitations. Read his comments below:

They’re gonna love this movie. The scale of the action in this one … certainly, being directed by Chad, the guy who directed all the John Wick [movies]. And it’s an amazing cast as well. It’s going to be spectacular. The sets, the way how they’re designed … certainly, my set was just [great]. There will be “a lot” of decapitations.

Directed by Chad Stahelski, best known for the John Wick franchise, the film aims to reintroduce the cult fantasy property to a modern audience with a bigger scale and a more intense action style. The Highlander reboot cast includes Cavill, Russell Crowe, Karen Gillan, Dave Bautista, Hounsou, and more.

Image by Everett Collection

Hounsou’s comments are especially notable given how central the violent themes of the film are to the mythology of Highlander. Within the franchise, immortals can only truly die if they are beheaded, making sword fights and brutal finishes a defining feature of the story’s action. It’s an element that sets the series apart from other fantasy IPs and one that fans have long expected any reboot to preserve.

With Stahelski at the helm, the emphasis on that kind of visceral combat makes even more sense. The John Wick franchise director has built his reputation on crafting highly choreographed, grounded action sequences that prioritize physicality and clarity, and translating that approach from gunplay to sword combat could give Highlander a distinct identity in today’s crowded action landscape.

The scale of the production also appears to be a major focus. Hounsou highlighted the film’s elaborate sets and overall scope, suggesting that the reboot will expand the world of Highlander in ways the original films could not. Rather than relying solely on CGI spectacle, the reboot will also need to lean into practical stunts and carefully staged fight choreography to fully satisfy its audience.

Ultimately, it seems that the new Highlander movie is not looking to reinvent the franchise by stripping away its core elements. Instead, it seems to be doubling down on what made it memorable in the first place.

If the film can successfully balance that fan-favorite brutality with Stahelski’s modern action sensibilities, the reboot could deliver a version of Highlander that feels both faithful and revitalized for new audiences.

Highlander has yet to set a release date.

Director

Chad Stahelski

Writers

Ryan J. Condal, Michael Finch, Kerry Williamson

Producers

Neal H. Moritz