The Highlander movies have not fared well throughout their run time. However, the upcoming reboot of the action-filled John Wick franchise Highlander will include Henry Cavill and Chad Stahelski. And that could be turntable for the franchise.
Set to begin its production in 2022, the movie will have Cavill in the lead and Stahelski in the director’s chair. We still do not have much information regarding the forthcoming Highlander reboot. But so far, we are only hoping that it’s a chance of resurrection for the previous movie series.
The Highlander franchise’s screen run so far.
Despite running for a long time, The Highlander series received more setbacks than applause. Especially the movies. The original Highlander, which came out in 1986, did a great job laying the franchise’s foundation. It is one of the most famous cult classics, even today. Although, it is the only movie in the entire series to win positive acclaim.
Its successor, the Highlander 2: The Quickening, all but wrecked the future of the series back in 1991. It can be said that the movie that followed was like the Justice League Snyder Cut of its time. Because the creators deeply re-edited and tweaked Highlander 2: Renegade Version.
The sequels that came later, namely Highlander: The Final Dimension and Highlander: Endgame, made sure to retcon Highlander II. Despite their efforts, both the movies failed to deliver what they promised. Ultimately, the franchise closed the deal with the disappointing 2007 SyFy movie Highlander: The Source.
With Highlander making a big deal of returning to the cinemas, the reboot has raised expectations. Luckily enough, we have Henry Cavill and Chad Stahelski to work on this reboot. Safe to say, the pair will take the upcoming Highlander reboot to a new high, creating a bar for success.
The stakes are high, but Cavill and Stahelski are two promising names.
Cavill is mainly recognized for his role as Superman in the DC Extended Universe. But the actor has constantly amazed fans with his powerful appearances in various action-packed movies he’s acted in. His performance as secret agent August Walker in Mission: Impossible – Fallout was very well portrayed. Other than the movies, Cavill also stars as the formidable monster hunter Geralt of Rivia on Netflix’s The Witcher series.
The show has demonstrated Cavill in combat, highlighting his skill in sword-based fight choreography. This proves how perfect of choice he is for the bladed action of the Highlander reboot. The reboot has already chosen its hero in Cavill, and it has done right.
In addition to that, Chad Stahelski, in the direction itself, makes the movie a potential hit. The director has made some fantastic action films like John Wick. We also know that Stahelski formerly worked as a stuntman. His experience at direction alone promises that there will not be an awful shaky cam in the Highlander reboot that modern action movies today are tainted by.
John Wick movies traditionally deal in gun-fu and intricate unarmed martial arts fights. But the series has also brought knives, swords, and other bladed weapons into the equation. This is why Stahelski’s skillful approach paired with his work as seen in the John Wick franchise sets a firm ground for some of the impressive sword battles ever seen in the Highlander franchise.
The possible future for Highlander franchise
It is not true that the entire Highlander series has been a complete downer. The television series has received a particularly nice response. And yet, when it comes to the movies section of the franchise, the original cult classic was led into a steep decline in viewership through dull follow-ups.
But now that Henry Cavill is chosen to be the leading face and Chad Stahelski as the director, the Highlander reboot could be the franchise’s first real hit. And not just in theatres. The success could mean a more enhanced version of the Highlander TV series in store, perhaps in the far future.