Dave Bautista praises the upcoming Highlander reboot, stating its action sequences are on par with those in John Wick. With Henry Cavill leading as Connor MacLeod, Chad Stahelski directing, and a script by American ᴀssᴀssin‘s Michael Finch, the Highlander reboot aims to blend supernatural fantasy with high-caliber combat.

The upcoming reboot is a fresh take on the 1986 cult-classic, Highlander, which spawned four sequels, a TV series, and a dedicated following. The story follows Connor MacLeod (Cavill), a 16th-century Scottish clansman who discovers he is an immortal warrior after surviving a mortal wound​​​​​​. Henry Cavill suffered an injury during pre-production, forcing the director to push back the start of production until 2026.

In a recent interview with Collider, Dave Bautista, who will play the iconic villain, The Kurgan, hyped up the film, highlighting its script and John Wick-like action sequences. The actor also said that he’d long dreamed of playing the role, and shared his initial reaction to the script. Read his full comments below:

I was so blown away by the script because, without saying too much, this is such a great reboot. We’re still paying tribute and giving a nod to the original, but making it new and fresh and exciting, and also just universe-building. It’s just so much bigger than the original. The action is on par with John Wick. I’m afraid I’m going to say too much. I don’t want to give anything away, but I think people are going to be blown away by this because it’s bigger than you imagine, and it’s new enough that you won’t be seeing the same thing. If you saw the original, you’re still not going to know what the story is.

What This Means For The New Highlander Movie

Bautista’s comments reveal a few important directions for the reboot. First, the film is seemingly aiming to reimagine the immortal duel trope with modern cinematic flair, instead of revisiting the classic. The John Wick-level action talk also suggests more than sword duels, and instead, perhaps immersive fight direction, with environmental kills and stylized gore.

Highlander’s enduring appeal stems from its mix of mythology, sword fighting, and the eternal conflict between good and evil. Its timeless premise of immortals battling through centuries for ultimate power offers endless storytelling possibilities that remain just as relevant today.

Our Take On Highlander’s Reboot

The Highlander reboot has all the makings of a franchise revival that could resonate with both longtime fans and newcomers. With Cavill stepping into the iconic role and the promises of John Wick-level action, the project has the task of balancing the original with bold new storytelling.

What makes this reboot especially significant is how it could re-establish the Highlander franchise as a cornerstone of the fantasy-action genre. The mix of mythology, swordplay, and reinvention positions the reboot as more than just a nostalgic retread. If successful, it could redefine the saga for a new generation.