The development of Lionsgate’s Highlander remake from John Wick director Chad Stahelski with Henry Cavill leading has been long in the making, but production appears to be getting ready to film at the very start of next year.
In an interview with Collider, Stahelski revealed he will begin filming Highlander in January 2025. In fact, after this coming weekend Stahelski is traveling to Scotland to do the final leg of location scouting. “We start shooting in January in Scotland,” Stahelski told the outlet, “that’s why I go right after I leave. I go to Scotland on Monday to do the final location scout.”
Stahelski has been developing Highlander for several years and Cavill has been attached for nearly just as long. They’ve both teased the project for quite a while now as they’ve waited for the right time between their busy schedules to get to work on the remake. With Cavill having exited The Witcher and Stahelski done with the John Wick franchise for the time being, the timing has aligned.
Stahelski also teased the sword fighting for the film. As a stuntman turned director, and one who has made very memorable action sequences throughout his career but most notably in John Wick and Deadpool, his plans for Highlander‘s swordplay are very ambitious and he recognizes the challenge.
“Swords, to me, are of one of the trickiest things to do in fight scenes, because if I mess up too much with the firearm, the muzzle flashes are digital,” Stahelski said. “So we don’t have to worry about hurting anyone. When we do car stuff, that’s also a big concern. But there’s ways now, cables that take some of the hazards out for the cast.” He went on to explain that with “Swords, it’s a little trickier because now I got to trust that my actors are swinging this piece of metal at each other, and hopefully not gonna take their eyes out or stab somebody. Every sword movie, somebody gets poked or hit on the head or something like that. It takes a little bit more skill and a little bit more dedication. So that’s always a concern.”
“Most of our concerns now are not really about training cast,” he continued. “We’ve got that machine up and running, and I think we have the right cast. We have the right people. We have the right trainers. We’ve dug up some of the best sword people I’ve ever met in my life in the last six months, that are helping us. It’s more about how do you bring it all together and make it something. It’s not Princess Bride, it’s not Crouching Tiger, it’s not Master & Commander, it’s not Zorro. What’s this new look of action or sword fighting that people could be excited about? That keeps me up at night.”
Highlander does not yet have a release date or any other cast members. Check back later as we learn more about the anticipated film.
Ricky Church – Follow me on Twitter for more movie news and nerd talk.
