Skip to main content

There can be only one: 'John Wick' co-director hired for 'Highlander' reboot

If there can be only one, Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment have apparently decided that John Wick co-director Chad Stahelski is the one.

Stahelski will reportedly direct the upcoming reboot of Highlander, the 1986 film about an immortal Scottish swordsman forced to duel against other immortals throughout time. The original spawned a five-film franchise and a popular live-action television series, among other projects.

Recommended Videos

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the studios are currently searching for a screenwriter to take on the project, which was been in development since 2008. An early version of the reboot was envisioned with Tom Cruise in mind to take on a supporting role similar to the one played by Sean Connery in the 1986 film. The Huntsman: Winter’s War director Cedric Nicolas-Troyan was attached to that iteration of the film.

“I’ve been a huge fan of the original property since I saw it in high school,” said Stahelski in a statement accompanying the studio announcement. “Such great themes of immortality, love, and identity are all wrapped up in such colorful mythology. I can’t think of a better property that gives the opportunity to create interesting characters, mythic themes and action set pieces.”

Directed by Russell Mulcahy, the original Highlander starred Christopher Lambert as the immortal Connor MacLeod, Connery as the immortal Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez, and Clancy Brown as the vicious immortal known as The Kurgan. The film follows Connor from his early days in the Scottish highlands through to his encounter with The Kurgan in 1985 New York City.

The movie — and subsequent television series — famously featured original songs created for Highlander by the band Queen, including “A Kind of Magic” and the series’ theme song, “Princes of the Universe.”

There’s no timetable for development of the Highlander reboot at this point.

Rick Marshall
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
This Netflix movie based on a popular video game now has a director
A soldier holds a gun in Gears of War.

Netflix is riding the wave of popularity for video game adaptations by commissioning a Gears of War movie. The streamer is recruiting a former stuntman turned director to helm the action spectacle.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, David Leitch is in negotiations to direct Gears of War for Netflix. Jon Spaihts, the Academy Award-nominated co-writer of Dune, will pen the Gears of War screenplay.

Read more
3 underrated Amazon Prime Video movies you should watch this weekend (May 16-18)
Michael Douglas in The Game.

When you're trying to settle down for the evening, one of the most reliable methods is firing up a movie on a streaming service like Amazon Prime Video. Because Amazon is packed with so many titles, though, you can wind up spending more time searching for something to watch than you actually spend watching anything.

If that's the case for you, then we've got you covered. We've pulled together three great movies that are all available on Prime Video, and each one is a title you might be inclined to skip over. Trust us, though, you really shouldn't:

Read more
3 underrated Netflix movies you should watch this weekend (May 16–18)
Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson, and Maggie Gyllenhaal in Frank

Feel like you've already watched everything worth seeing on Netflix? Think again! Behind all the flashy blockbusters and trending originals lies a stash of underrated films that didn't get the spotlight but absolutely deserve it. These hidden gems are perfect for viewers in the mood for something different and who don't exactly want to endlessly scroll through countless choices on the streaming giant.

Whether it's an offbeat comedy, an indie sci-fi flick, or a gripping international thriller, there's a unique offering for every type of audience. So this weekend, skip the usual suspects and go off-script. For those willing to venture beyond the algorithm's usual suggestions, these underappreciated movies might just be what your weekend watchlist is missing.

Read more