Highlander Gets Fast And Furious Justin Lin to direct remake Source: Variety
Summit Entertainment are preparing a new kind of magic. Just two years after the franchise-killing fourth sequel, Highlander's head is to be magically re-attached (just like Sean Connery's in Highlander 2). The reboot announced by producer Peter S Davis in Empire issue 241 is properly underway. And the director? Justin Lin, whose CV to date includes Fast and Furious, and its predecessor Tokyo Drift, as well as indie dramas Better Luck Tomorrow and Finishing the Game.
The original Highlander franchise began with Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery chopping heads in Russell Mulachy's original film in 1986, and ended ignominiously on the Sci-Fi channel in 2007, with Adrian Paul dodging mutant cannibals in an inexpensive Romanian forest (Brett Leonard's Highlander: The Source). In between were three other sequels, two TV series, a Saturday morning cartoon and an anime.
Clearly, like Mulcahy before him, Lin has the flashy visuals down pat, and he also demonstrably has the action skills to pay the bills. But whether he has the chops to bring anything more than a glossy surface to a new Highlander franchise remains to be seen.
The core idea of Highlander - a secret, mysterious battle between immortals that spans centuries - was arguably never satisfyingly explored by the original films (although some would say the bargain-basement TV show went profitably into dramatic parts the films never reached). It'd be a shame if a new film didn't learn from past mistakes. But then, it'll also be weird to see a Highlander without a French Scot and a Scottish Spanish Egyptian.
The new script is by Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, who co-wrote Iron Man. The story - immortal Scots swordsman forced to confront barbarian for mythical prize - is the same as before.
No cast announcements yet. Let us know who you'd like to see in Conner McLeod's spanking new kilt.
L: granny
If they must do it, surely Muse should do the soundtrack or just cover Queen's songs in their own style (which is quite Queen-y these days anyway).
Other than that, leave it alone I say. It's an 80s curio that's still fun but rather dated looking now.
aha - That's funny I was just thinking of Radiohead redoing the Queen tunes. ... Read More
I do not think this film needs remaking. What is wrong in Hollywood cant writers think of original stories?
I wont go and see it. if it sees the light of day, lets hope it doesnt. ... Read More
thank you waltham, i am oddly touched by your approval!
how about karen gillan (new doctor who assistant) as mcleod's first wife? she's pretty young but this would make her aging and eventual death all the more marked. she is also from the highlands (inverness).
i love gugino and i agree that you need to cast a very modern, strong, independent, relatively mature woman as brenda.
also, how about a female immortal? ... Read More
L: highlander11
how about getting an actual highlander - kevin mckidd (he was -is?- vorenus after all). ray stevenson as the kurgen. i agree with banderas (he could definitely pull off the foppish side of ramirez
you sir are a fucking genius! throw in Carla Gugino as a Brenda type character and I am over the moon !! ... Read More
how about getting an actual highlander - kevin mckidd (he was -is?- vorenus after all). ray stevenson as the kurgen. i agree with banderas (he could definitely pull off the foppish side of ramirez ... Read More
I agree with darth silas with the choices of Antonio Banderas as Ramirez, and possibly Vin Diesel as The Kurgan, except I'd prefer Conner MacLeod to be an unknown (Scottish!) actor...Most importantly, so long as they get MacLeod tartan right, I'll be half-pleased!!! Having MUSE do the soundtrack would be nice!...The 'Barbarian' the Kurgan could possibly be made more 'Viking' to fit better, or Germanic 'Goth' or 'Frank' (Barbanian I suppose, as the Romans would say)... ... Read More
The original Highlander was a very good film ...it went to hell after the first one even the soundtrack was awesome ...but as long as they dont murder the franchise again and dont make so many films that you forget when it started then it might be ok ...3 at the most please if that
The anime wasnt bad ..but it wasnt anything special heres hoping they can rescue the damn thing lol ... Read More
I have kind of mixed feelings about this one. The first movie got the mix of action and comedy just right and had some great visuals. Lambert and Connery were a good team and who could ever forget that Queen score?
On the other hand, it was made by Cannon cheapo films and the effects at the end when McLeod wins the prize were dreadful (you can actually see the wire holding him up through the cartoonish special effects).
Most remakes are awful, but you never know until you see the finishe... Read More
