The cast of the upcoming reimagining of Highlander is just getting better and better. Henry Cavill leads the ensemble that includes Russell Crowe and Dave Bautista, and now we know that Karen Gillan, the genre queen best known for her roles in Doctor Who, Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Jumanji franchises, is joining the mix.
In a way, it’s a film she was born to be in. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news of Gillan’s casting, and she reposted it on X with the comment “Dialect coach can sit this one out…” Highlander, of course, is largely set in Scotland, Gillan’s home country, so there will be no Nebula voice here. Just pure Karen Gillan.
Highlander is a sweeping epic across the ages about eternal beings fighting each other until only one remains. We follow Connor MacLeod, played by Henry Cavill, as he learns about his destiny and fights to survive across the centuries. Gillan plays Heather, his mortal first wife. Beatie Edney played the role in the 1986 original, which saw MacLeod marry her after being ousted by his clan. The two live a peaceful life, but MacLeod doesn’t age, being a Highlander and all, and Heather eventually dies of old age. It’s unclear if the role is the same in this new version, but it’s a solid supporting role.
In addition to Cavill, Crowe is playing the role of MacLeod’s mentor, Ramirez, which was originally played and made famous by Sean Connery. Bautista is the Kurgan, another Highlander who is very proficient at killing other Highlanders and sets his sights on MacLeod. Black Bag star Marisa Abela is also in the film, possibly as a modern scientist who finds herself investigating the events.
Written by Michael Finch (John Wick: Chapter 4) and directed by the franchise godfather of John Wick, Chad Stahelski, Highlander starts shooting in September, and we cannot wait. It’s a franchise that has lived on the fringes but, with this cast and this team, has the potential to be really special.