There can be only one — but there is room for Russell Crowe. Collider can exclusively reveal that the Oscar-winning Gladiator star has officially joined the cast of Highlander, the long-awaited reboot from John Wick mastermind Chad Stahelski. Crowe will star in a key role opposite Henry Cavill, who was previously announced as the film’s sword-swinging immortal lead. The project has been in various stages of development for nearly a decade, but with Stahelski locked in to direct and production scheduled to begin this fall, as we revealed earlier this week, Highlander is finally moving forward — and with an expanded scope.
In a past conversation with Collider, Stahelski teased that this Highlander isn’t just a remake of the 1986 cult classic, but a broader evolution of the saga.
“We’re bringing it forward from the early 1500s in the Highlands to the beyond present-day New York and Hong Kong. There’s big opportunity for action… and it’s a bit of a love story — but not how you think.”
The original film, directed by Russell Mulcahy, starred Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod, a centuries-old warrior locked in an eternal battle with other immortals. It became a VHS-era cult hit thanks to its gnarly sword fights, time-hopping narrative, and a soundtrack from Queen that still goes hard. Sequels, spinoffs, and even a TV series followed — but none captured the same lightning-in-a-bottle energy.
Who Could Russell Crowe Be Playing in ‘Highlander’?
While there’s no confirmation as to which role Crowe will play, his casting opens up several exciting possibilities. Given the mythos of the Highlander universe, here are three likely contenders:
- The Kurgan: The terrifying villain from the 1986 film, played by Clancy Brown, is one of the most fearsome baddies in cult cinema. Crowe could deliver a completely different — but no less menacing — take on the Kurgan, bringing his trademark intensity to the immortal psychopath who seeks the Prize for himself.
- Ramírez Reimagined: Originally played by Sean Connery, Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez was MacLeod’s immortal mentor and an iconic part of the original film. Recasting Crowe in this role would be a perfect nod to the past.
- A New Immortal: Stahelski has promised that his version will expand the timeline and locations, hinting at new characters across centuries. Crowe could easily be stepping into a wholly original role — perhaps a rival or ally to Cavill’s MacLeod, with his own mysterious past and agenda.
Whatever the case, Stahelski is betting big on character and emotional depth to match the sword-swinging spectacle. As he told Collider:
“My selling point to [Henry] was, look, you’ve got a guy that’s been alive for over 500 years. He’s the last person in the world that wanted to be in this situation. So you get to cover quite a broad spread of a character arc… and you get to experience someone that’s trained over 500 years and sort of played [with many types of] martial arts.”
Stay tuned to Collider for more updates on Highlander.