Is Kevin McKidd the new Highlander?

Posted by Robin Ruinsky (robin@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 22, 2008

Kevin McKidd Who wants to live forever? Highlander that’s who! A new version of Highlander is in the works according to Summit, the people who will be bringing you Twilight. I guess they have a thing for immortals.

In the original film, released in 1986, Christopher Lambert, a Frenchman, played Conner MacLeod, a Scotsman. Sean Connery, a Scotsman, played Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez, a Spaniard. Both were immortal. It appears that only guys could be immortal, not women, so there were no female Highlanders. Clancy Brown played the biggest baddest Highlander of them all, Victor Krugar known as the Kurgan.

There had to be a really bad Highlander because the rest of the Highlanders really liked each other. They liked taking walks in Central Park, swapping sword fighting tips and didn’t have the heart to lop off the heads of very old friends. This was a problem because they had to kill each other. As any one who has seen the movie or the very funny 30 Second Bunny version knows, there can be only One.

Highlander spawned sequels, an animated version, a television series, more television versions and a song by Queen. All this proves that Highlander will already live forever.

The newest incarnation isn’t being called a sequel but a reinvention of the original. This time Scotsman Kevin McKidd, Rome, Trainspotting, has been approached to take on the role. I’m assuming they want him for MacCleod, unless they want another Frenchman for MacCleod and McKidd to play a Spaniard. Alright, I jest. They want McKidd to play the Highlander which is a good start. McKidd’s a good actor and he’s a Scot so that would be a nice touch.

McKidd hasn’t said he’s taking on the role, but now that his series “Journeyman” has been axed he might be in the mood to wield a sword and make some heads roll.

What do you think? If there is a new Highlander do you like the casting of Kevin McKidd? If not, who do you want to see play the immortal Scotsman?

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Nevernude

Kevin McKidd should be signed up by Marvel to play THOR pronto!! The man is a good actor and this could be his shot to fame.

Cole Abaius

I thought by cutting off the top of my Highlander: The Source DVD I ended the chances of there being anymore Highlander projects....

Aleric

After watcing ROME I would agree that Kevin McKidd would be a perfect Highlander.

BUT....and here is the catch, the problem hasn't been the actors in the movies and TV series, the problem has been with the writers and directors who produced bad scripts and terrible directing. No one has been able to catch the spirit of the first movie and TV series.

Dubhodhar

Meh... after all the sequels, music, television series - bad or otherwise - they need to let this go. McKidd would be a great choice, he's a hell of an actor - but I'd rather see him do something like Gray's Anatomy, which I hear he's in talks for. If he does Highlander, he'll just get typecast and frankly, I think he's too good an actor to get caught up in all that. There already was one. Is Hollywood that desperate for movie ideas that they have re-invent every movie made? Ugh, ugh and ugh. Oh and for heaven's sake tell them not to talk to Gerry Butler either.

Bane

I am and have always been a massive fan of Highlander. People keep telling me there are our highlander films but I refuse to acknowledge them.
When I heard they were going to make a remake I thought oh god not again, But with Kevin as Connor it could work. The next biggest question is who will play the Krugan! I hope they play it as it should and not a gay version as in Source (shudder).
What would you say about Clancy taking up the role again?

Bane

If they need to know how to play the Krugan they should read they following website description of the the baddest baddie http://www.movievillains.com/archives/2004/08/t...

Martin

It annoys me to no end when people call all Immortals "Highlanders" just because the movie and the shows were called that. Highlander refers to the Macleods who were born in the Highlands of Scotland. Ramirez and The Kurgan were not Highlanders, only Immortals. In addition, this article is wrong, stating that women cannot be Immortals. Watch the show. The show featured many female Immortals (which included my favorite: Claudia Christian) and the last spin-off series even starred a female Immortal.
I am surprised they are making another but Kevin McKidd is a phenominal actor and will do very well for a remake. I just hope the scrap the usual writers, as they need serious help with their ability to make long-lasting and unconflicting plot. I wish I could get enlisted to help, as I have written several unpublished works on the Highlander franchise that I have been told by numerous people to submit for publishing.

Sean

When I first heard about a restart to the Highlander franchise I was a little surprised! The original of course was such a classic. The tv series was great as well. Highlander 2 the Quickening and The Source,why did they bother. The third and fourth movies were,well, ok if you put them up against the other sequels in the franchise. I guess this franchise restart is'nt all that surprising considering all the remakes the studios have been pushing out there. All they really need to do at the end of the movie is not have the Macleod charater be the last immortal left standing. That way you can (depending how the movie does at the box office) make a sequel that doesnt have some Planet Zeist story line. You can take this kind of character in so many different directions, thats what made the series fun to watch. The series always put Duncan Macleod in so many different morale dilemmas, and the overall joys and burdens of immortality, plus some really good villains. You get a better understanding of the character. Easier to do that with a series I know but if done right, and they stay away from trying to tell any kind of story about the origins of immortals,then they can take the story to the next level, introduce new characters, and just make a better series of movies. But then again, as Martin writes about, I have seen a few unpublished works that a few of my friends sent me. Just phenominal stories that some fans wrote, far better then any of the junk they released in theaters after the original. As big of a fan as I am, I do kinda wish they would just leave it alone already. Sitting through The Source was painfull enough.

harry

yyehhh! anether highlander, however i think anether TV series with kevin mckidd playing connor would be better than remaking the first one? then you would have series for both duncan and connor then the film timline might make a bit more sense. but i would watch it anyway! i love all highlander stuff! (yes! even the 2nd one and the source) :)

Bear351c

Thomas Jane, from The Punisher. Looks like Christophe Lambert. (might be his brother, separated at birth.

Is Kevin McKidd the new Highlander?

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