Henry Cavill is back swinging the sword in the long-awaited reboot of Highlander, and fans are finally getting a look at Dave Bautista as the legendary villain, The Kurgan. In the new set video, Bautista surprises viewers with a full head of hair, joining Cavill’s Connor MacLeod in a revival of a franchise that helped define 1980s action fantasy.
This new version of Highlander has been stuck in development for nearly twenty years. But that drought seems to be over with John Wick director Chad Stahelski calling the shots and a loaded cast bringing the blades back to life. Alongside Cavill and Bautista are Jeremy Irons, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, Marisa Abela, and Max Zhang. With names like that, could this be the revival the genre needs?
Recent footage from the London shoot shows Cavill on a motorcycle beside Irons. While the clip offers little action, fans immediately noticed Bautista’s The Kurgan looks more human and less monstrous than the killer seen in the 1987 original played by Clancy Brown. Is this new take meant to make the villain more relatable? Or are we being lured into a false sense of security until the first trailer drops later this year?
Bautista seems to be everywhere these days. Coming off his hit with Jason Momoa in Prime Video’s The Wrecking Crew, the former wrestling star appears to be carving out a permanent place in Hollywood’s top tier of action heroes. And he isn’t keeping his admiration for Cavill a secret.
In an interview with last November, Bautista said, “Henry is easily one of the hardest-working actors I’ve ever worked with in my life. It’s because I’ve seen him train. I say that coming from 20 years of professional wrestling. I know what hard work is in a gym. He’s easily not only one of the hardest actors I’ve ever seen work, but he’s also a real gentleman.”
Henry Cavill and Dave Bautista Filming Highlander https://t.co/TpeCS37LKk pic.twitter.com/IdhkYgf2b1
— UnBoxPHD (@UnBoxPHD) February 9, 2026
That kind of mutual respect could make all the difference on screen. The original Highlander became iconic thanks to Christopher Lambert’s performance, Queen’s rock soundtrack, and a wave of fantasy storytelling that still echoes through pop culture today. But now, a new question looms over this ambitious reboot—can Cavill and Bautista honor the old while creating something that stands on its own?
Back in 1987, the answer to who would remain was simple—there could be only one. In 2026, moviegoers might be ready to ask: is there finally room for two Highlanders?
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English (US) · 