Highlander: Henry Cavill Delivers John Wick Hype in CinemaCon Footage

Henry Cavill’s Highlander reboot has finally shown its hand, and the first CinemaCon footage makes one thing plain: Chad Stahelski is not tiptoeing into this myth; he is charging in with a sword raised high. Amazon MGM gave theater owners in Las Vegas an early look at the film while production is still underway, and the preview reportedly leaned hard into vicious action, neon-soaked combat, motorcycle pursuits, and the kind of bruising choreography that naturally invites comparisons to John Wick (per Variety). 

Cavill’s immortal warrior is said to have been born in 1518, and the footage frames his fate around The Gathering, where immortals are forced into a deadly contest that leaves room for only one survivor. That alone would have been enough to turn heads, but Highlander reboot also arrives with serious franchise weight. Cavill is inheriting the mantle first made famous by Christopher Lambert, while Russell Crowe, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, Jeremy Irons, Marisa Abela, Max Zhang, and Siobhán Cullen round out a cast that looks built for both spectacle and legacy. 

Highlander Reboot Changes Brenda’s Story, Says Siobhán Cullen

Credit:- Lionsgate

One of the clearest new story teases has come from Siobhán Cullen, who says the reboot is not simply a photocopy of Brenda from the 1986 film. Speaking to Deadline, Cullen said the Brenda in this version is “totally different.” She explained:

That is a meaningful change. In the original film, Brenda Wyatt was a New York forensic scientist following clues around Connor’s mysterious sword. Cullen’s description points to a woman entering the story from a far messier, more precarious place. That shift could freshen up the reboot in a very practical way, because the mortal point of view matters in Highlander. Without that anchor, immortality can become all lore and no pulse.

Cullen also hyped the action, calling the movie “definitely one for the fans,” and added, “some of the fighting scenes I’ve seen are just insane.” She went further by praising Stahelski’s command of action language, saying, “It’s exciting to work with somebody who is so fluent in the language of action, and it’s like there’s this whole other script that’s happening that is parallel to our dialogue.”

Cavill’s own enthusiasm has been steady for years. When the project was announced, he wrote on Instagram, “I’ve been a fan of Highlander since I was a lad.” 

Highlander Reboot: Cast, Story, Release Details and Everything We Know

Henry Cavill in Highlander | Credits: Amazon MGM Studios

The spine of the reboot remains familiar in the best possible way. Henry Cavill is playing Connor MacLeod, the immortal Scottish warrior at the center of the franchise. Crowe steps into the role of Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez, Bautista is playing the Kurgan, Gillan is Heather MacLeod, Hounsou is Sunda Kastagir, McIntyre is Angus MacLeod, and Irons is set to play the leader of the Watchers. Abela, Max Zhang, Jeon Jong-seo, Nassim Lyes, Kevin McKidd, and Cullen are also part of the ensemble.

The basic premise remains deliciously old-school: Connor discovers he is an immortal and must survive centuries of combat against others like him to eventually claim “the Prize.” CinemaCon reporting adds a few fresh wrinkles, including the detail that Cavill’s character was born in 1518 and that filming will continue across Poland, the Scottish Highlands, and Hong Kong. 

There is also a bigger franchise ambition humming beneath the surface. Stahelski said in 2025 (via Happy Sad Confused podcast) that the team had brought in elements from the television shows and was trying “to do a bit of a prequel, a setup to The Gathering, so we have room to grow the property.” 

As for release details, there is still no official theatrical release date. The movie is in active production, and current reporting suggests it is only around halfway finished. That makes a 2026 release possible, but not guaranteed unless Amazon MGM pins it down soon. 

Is Cavill about to give this cult classic the second life it has deserved for years, or are you still holding your applause until Amazon MGM drops a full trailer? Drop your take below, and follow FandomWire for more updates!