Henry Cavill may be playing an immortal, but he’s not invulnerable. The actor suffered an injury while preparing for his leading role in the upcoming reboot of Highlander. The injury will reportedly delay the film’s production. According to reports, Cavill incurred the injury during pre-production, as he trains for the swordfight-heavy reboot of the cult film franchise. The film was initially set to begin filming in Scotland this month, but the injury has now pushed that back to early next year.
The film is set to be helmed by action maven Chad Stahelski, who has shepherded the reboot for several years now. The film has been steadily announcing its cast members as it prepares to relaunch the long-dormant action series. The original film was released in 1986, and starred Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, and Clancy Brown; with stylish direction from Russell Mulcahy and a soundtrack by Queen, the film became a cult hit, spawning several sequels and TV shows.
What Do We Know About the ‘Highlander’ Reboot?
Cavill will star as Connor MacLeod, a 16th-century inhabitant of the Scottish Highlands. When he incurs what should have been a fatal wound, he discovers from a mysterious stranger, Ramirez (Russell Crowe) that he’s an immortal, a member of a hidden tribe of humanity who can be killed only via beheading. Cast out from his people, he falls in love with a woman (Karen Gillan) and marries her, only to realize that she’s all too mortal. His life, meanwhile, continues into the modern day, when sword-wielding immortals duel in secret; with each kill, the victor undergoes “the Quickening,” which grants them the power of their fallen foe. They battle until only one remains; that ultimate survivor will claim the mysterious boon known only as “the Prize.” As he romances a modern woman (Marisa Abela), he faces off against a number of other immortals (Djimon Hounsou and Max Zhang), and prepares to face his ultimate foe: the Kurgan (Dave Bautista), a merciless immortal who’s plagued him for centuries.
Stahelski (John Wick) will direct the film from a script by Michael Finch (American Assassin). According to Cavill, the film will delve deep into lore and swordplay: “…we are going deep into the meat of these characters and their trials and tribulations. If you thought you saw me do swordwork before, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”
Highlander‘s production has been delayed to early next year; no release date for the film has yet been announced.
via Collider