Chad Stahelski’s “Highlander” was supposed to start shooting last week, but lead Henry Cavill was injured during training, and production had to be delayed to 2026.
That still hasn’t stopped casting announcements. Jeremy Irons, a great actor, an Oscar winner, is the latest star to join the cast of “Highlander,” Amazon MGM’s remake of the 1980s cult classic. No surprise, Irons is playing the villain. His specialty.
The star-studded cast now includes Cavill, Irons, Russell Crowe, Marisa Abela, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, and Djimon Hounsou. While the source material didn’t initially grab me, this lineup makes a strong case for a genuinely entertaining film.
The “Highlander” reboot has faced several production setbacks. Stahelski originally aimed to begin filming in late 2024, later shifting toward a January 2025 start. However, delays caused by additional work on “Ballerina” pushed the schedule back once again.
Stahelski, the filmmaker who turned “John Wick” into a billion-dollar franchise, wanted a $180M budget to relaunch “Highlander.” Lionsgate balked, capping their interest at a still-eye-opening $165M. Amazon, because they light cigars with money, said sure, and took over the project. That budget has probably now risen because of this latest delay.
Highlander” is set to feature Stahelski’s signature style, with cast member Dave Bautista recently describing the action scenes as “on par with John Wick.” Expect balletic sword fights and visually striking combat, making it likely a stylistic departure from the 1986 original, which famously led to three poorly received sequels.
A release date has yet to be announced for Chad Stahelski’s “Highlander,” but with filming expected to commence in early 2026, a projected release window between 2027 and 2028 is likely.
The short version: "Woman Unknown" was a compromise. The jury deadlocked over "Possible Love" and "NAZA," not able to com to terms, fell back on their #3, May el-Toukhy's film.