(Left) Chad Stahelski at the Lionsgate CinemaCon presentation in support of ‘John Wick: Chapter Four’ at the Colosseum Theatre in Caesar’s Palace on April 28th, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Eric Charbonneau. (Right) Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod in 1986’s ‘Highlander.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.
The idea of rebooting 1986’s ‘Highlander’ is not a new one. It has been bubbling away on Hollywood’s development burner for a few years now, going through the usual litany of directors, writers and potential cast on its difficult journey to screens.
Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod in 1986’s ‘Highlander.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.
The 1988 original revolves around Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert), a Scottish Highlander born in the 16th Century who is somehow immortal. He has survived through the centuries, and learns from Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez (Sean Connery), that he is part of a race of many who can only die when beheaded. The power of the slain immortal is absorbed into the victor, and they are all competing for “The Prize” –– enough power to rule Earth forever. Connor’s biggest threat is the Kurgan (Clancy Brown), a murderous brute of an immortal who wants that power for himself and Connor must face him at an event known as The Gathering.
“There can,” as the tagline famously reads, “be only one.”
Directed by Russell Mulcahy, the first film is considered a cult classic, dividing audiences into those who love it and those who think it’s so bad it’s great. The movie is famous for its sword fights and its Queen-composed soundtrack.
It spawned several sequels and even a spin-off TV series.
1015736
Stahelski on his plans
(L to R) Director Chad Stahelski and Bill Skarsgård as Marquis in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Here’s what Stahelski had to say:
“‘Highlander,’ I’ll tell you, if we get our shit together and pull off a feature, we have ideas for days about the coolest characters and how to make that an epic TV show. I just think that’s a rich, rich mythology. Our story engages a lot of the same characters and stuff like that. But we’ve also brought in elements of all the TV shows, and we’re trying to do a bit of a prequel, a setup to The Gathering, so we have room to grow the property.”
Yet he adds that he’ll have to be careful:
“The trick is when you have the tagline ‘there can only be one,’ you can’t just kill everybody the first time.”
(L to R) Sean Connery as Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez and Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod in 1986’s ‘Highlander.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.
While he loves the original, he’s not above pointing out its flaws…
“There’s not a lot that happens in the second act, It’s mostly about bitchin’ flashbacks with Sean Connery mugging the camera. You watch the movie, and it has no business being good or cool or interesting, but for whatever reason — the fisheye lenses, weird sword fights, fucked up dialogue, and the Queen soundtrack make it one of the funnest movies you’ll ever watch.”
There has been little progress of late on the movie, primarily because of the combined writers and actors’ strike. But once smarter decisions have been made by the studios and the matter is resolved, Stahelski and Cavill will be ready to dive back into that world.
Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’s ‘The Witcher.’ Photo: Jay Maidment.
Other Movies and TV Specials Similar to ‘Highlander:’
Morfydd Clark as Galadriel in Prime Video’s ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.’ Photo: Ben Rothstein/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon Studios.
Sword and sorcery is a sub-genre of fantasy stories characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent adventures, with elements of romance, magic, and the supernatural.
In honor of the release of ‘The Rings of Power,’ Moviefone counts down the twenty greatest sword and sorcery movies of all time.
To be included on this list, the film in question must feature at least one character wielding a sword, and some element of magic introduced in the plot.
When the child Arthur’s father is murdered, Vortigern (Jude Law), Arthur’s uncle, seizes the crown. Robbed of his birthright and with no idea who he truly is, Arthur (Charlie Hunnam) comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city. But once he pulls the sword Excalibur from the stone, his life is turned upside down and he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy… whether he likes it or not.
In an ancient time when majestic fire-breathers soared through the skies, a knight named Bowen (Dennis Quaid) comes face to face and heart to heart with the last dragon on Earth, Draco (voiced by Sean Connery). Taking up arms to suppress a tyrant king, Bowen soon realizes his task will be harder than he’d imagined: If he kills the king, Draco will die as well.
Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), a hobbit enjoying his quiet life, is swept into an epic quest by Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) and thirteen dwarves who seek to reclaim their mountain home from Smaug, the dragon.
Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is commissioned by the evil queen Taramis (Sarah Douglas) to safely escort a teen princess and her powerful bodyguard to a far away castle to retrieve the magic Horn of Dagoth. Unknown to Conan, the queen plans to sacrifice the princess when she returns and inherit her kingdom after the bodyguard kills Conan. The queen’s plans fail to take into consideration Conan’s strength and cunning and the abilities of his sidekicks: the eccentric wizard Akiro (Mako), the warrior woman Zula (Grace Jones), and the inept Malak (Tracey Walter). Together the hero and his allies must defeat both mortal and supernatural foes in this voyage to sword-and-sorcery land.
A rogue prince (Jake Gyllenhaal) reluctantly joins forces with a mysterious princess (Gemma Arterton) and together, they race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time – gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.
In his homeland of Alagaesia, a farm boy (Ed Speleers) happens upon a dragon’s egg — a discovery that leads him on a predestined journey where he realized he’s the one person who can defend his home against an evil king.
Set in a timeless mythical forest inhabited by fairies, goblins, unicorns and mortals, this fantastic story follows a mystical forest dweller (Tom Cruise), chosen by fate, to undertake a heroic quest. He must save the beautiful Princess Lili (Mia Sara) and defeat the demonic Lord of Darkness (Tim Curry), or the world will be plunged into a never-ending ice age.
The tyrant Gedren (Sandahl Bergman) seeks the total power in a world of barbarism. She raids the city Hablac and kills the keeper of a talisman that gives her great power. Red Sonja (Brigitte Nielsen), sister of the keeper, sets out with her magic sword to overthrow Gedren.
A prince (Kenneth Marshall) and a fellowship of companions set out to rescue his bride (Lysette Anthony) from a fortress of alien invaders who have arrived on their home planet.
In ancient Egypt, peasant Mathayus (Dwayne Johnson) is hired to exact revenge on the powerful Memnon and the sorceress Cassandra (Kelly Hu), who are ready to overtake Balthazar’s village. Amid betrayals, thieves, abductions and more, Mathayus strives to bring justice to his complicated world.
He fought his first battle on the Scottish Highlands in 1536. He will fight his greatest battle on the streets of New York City in 1986. His name is Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert). He is immortal.
Captain Etienne Navarre (Rutger Hauer) is a man on whose shoulders lies a cruel curse. Punished for loving each other, Navarre must become a wolf by night whilst his lover, Lady Isabeau (Michelle Pfeiffer), takes the form of a hawk by day. Together, with the thief Philippe Gaston (Matthew Broderick), they must try to overthrow the corrupt Bishop (John Wood ) and in doing so break the spell.
The evil Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh) hunts the newborn princess Elora Danan, a child prophesied to bring about her downfall. When the royal infant is found by Willow (Warwick Davis), a timid farmer and aspiring sorcerer, he’s entrusted with delivering her from evil. Joanne Whalley and Val Kilmer also star.
To win the right to marry his love, the beautiful princess Andromeda (Judi Bowker), and fulfil his destiny, Perseus (Harry Hamlin) must complete various tasks including taming Pegasus, capturing Medusa’s head, and battling the Kraken monster.
Young hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), after inheriting a mysterious ring from his uncle Bilbo (Ian Holm), must leave his home in order to keep it from falling into the hands of its evil creator. Along the way, a fellowship is formed to protect the ringbearer and make sure that the ring arrives at its final destination: Mt. Doom, the only place where it can be destroyed.
In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) and the dashing Westley (Cary Elwes) must overcome staggering odds to find happiness amid six-fingered swordsmen (Christopher Guest), murderous princes (Chris Sarandon), Sicilians (Wallace Shawn), a giant (André Roussimoff), a swordsman with a personal vendetta (Mandy Patinkin), a wizard (Billy Crystal) and his wife (Carol Kane), and rodents of unusual size. But even death can’t stop these true lovebirds from triumphing.
A horde of rampaging warriors massacre the parents of young Conan and enslave the young child for years on The Wheel of Pain. As the sole survivor of the childhood massacre, Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is released from slavery and taught the ancient arts of fighting. Transforming himself into a killing machine, Conan travels into the wilderness to seek vengeance on Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones), the man responsible for killing his family. In the wilderness, Conan takes up with the thieves Valeria (Sandahl Bergman) and Subotai (Gerry Lopez). The group comes upon King Osric (Max von Sydow), who wants the trio of warriors to help rescue his daughter who has joined Doom in the hills.
A surreal adaptation of Sir Thomas Malory’s “Le Morte d’Arthur,’ chronicling Arthur’s (Nigel Terry) discovery of excalibur, his rise to the throne, the Knights of the Round Table’s search for the Holy Grail, and ultimately his death. Also starring Helen Mirren as Morgana Le Fay, Nicol Williamson as Merlin, Patrick Stewart as King Leodegrance, Liam Neeson as Sir Gawain, Gabriel Byrne as King Uther Pendragon, and Ciarán Hinds as King Lot.
Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) is revealed as the heir to the ancient kings as he, Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and the other members of the broken fellowship struggle to save Gondor from Sauron’s (Christopher Lee) forces. Meanwhile, Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) take the ring closer to the heart of Mordor, the dark lord’s realm.
