WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre Joins Henry Cavill’s Highlander Reboot
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Phil Roberts 
WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre is leaving the wrestling ring to play Henry Cavill’s brother in Chad Stahelski’s reboot of Highlander.
WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre has joined Henry Cavill’s Highlander reboot. According to Deadline, the Scottish brawler has been cast as Cavill’s brother. In the film, Cavill will play Connor MacLeod, with McIntyre playing his chiselled brother, Angus. With the help of a swordsman named Ramirez, played by Russell Crowe, MacLeod battles other immortals throughout history. The cast includes Dave Bautista as the Kurgan, Karen Gillan as MacLeod’s Scottish wife, and Marisa Abela as his love interest in the modern day. Additionally, Djimon Hounsou has recently joined the cast as an immortal warrior from Africa.
It is unclear whether this casting will require McIntyre to take some time off from the ring. Recently, the Scottish wrestler challenged the current champion, Cody Rhodes, for the WWE title but was unsuccessful. However, since Rhodes is also taking time off to film Street Fighter, McIntyre may decide to take on lighter responsibilities, similar to his last opponent.
The news comes weeks after the film was forced into hiatus due to Cavill sustaining a training injury. The extent of Cavill’s injury is unknown, but it’s serious enough to shelf production until the new year. So we can only hope the actor has a speedy recovery.
THE FILM
The film is a long-awaited reboot of the classic 1986 movie starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery. However, for this outing, director Chad Stahelski intends to expand his world and flesh out the sandbox for future stories. With a multitude of immortals to explore, the director aims to create a more complex and nuanced world, following immortals from around the globe as they engage in mortal combat.
Regarding the tone of his adaptation, Stahelski recently said: “We’re bringing it forward from the early 1500s in the highlands to the beyond present-day New York and Hong Kong, and seeing how it goes,” he said. “There’s big opportunity for action. There’s a chance to play a character that not a lot of people get to play. And it’s a bit of a love story, but not how you think. On John Wick, I learned a lot on how to bend the storytelling a little… another kind of myth.”
The project is produced by United Artists, which is owned by Amazon and MGM Studios, and has recently been acquired from Lionsgate. Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt are producing the film alongside Neal H. Moritz, 87Eleven Entertainment, Josh Davis from Davis Panser Productions, and Louise Rosner. Michael Finch has written the screenplay. Filming is expected to take place in England, Scotland, and Hong Kong once production resumes.
THE ORIGINAL
The original 1986 film Highlander starred Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery. It depicted the climax of an ancient battle between immortal warriors, weaving together storylines from both the past and the present day. The movie went on to become a cult classic during the late 1980s, spawning multiple sequels, a TV series, and a dedicated fan base.
RELEASE
Unfortunately, because of the delay, there is currently no timeline for the film’s completion. Fans of the franchise will need to be patient as progress stalls. However, with Drew McIntyre joining the already fantastic cast, a dedicated and talented director, and some incredible locations already secured, the film is set to be a monumental adventure that will be well worth the wait.
Let’s hope Henry Cavill recovers soon to join McIntyre in the Highlands.
Are you looking forward to the Highlander reboot? Drop a comment in the chat below.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
