There Won’t Be Only One ‘Highlander’

Posted by Dr. Cole Abaius (cole.abaius@filmschoolrejects.com) on September 22, 2009

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Like a lightening bolt out of nowhere, we received word today that not only is Summit definitely going forward with a remake of Highlander, but they’ve got a director and producer signed on as bold proof of their throwing caution to the wind.

Pretty soon they’ll be able to throw the phrase “From the Director and Producer of Fast & Furious comes Highlander” because Justin Lin is going to be sitting squarely in the director’s chair while Neil Moritz will be producing. And as if you weren’t thrilled enough, Peter Davis, who produced the original, is also along for the ride.

I can’t say I know whether they are headed (get it?) in the right direction here, because I’m frankly not sure if there is a right direction for this sort of thing. It’s been 23 since the original came out, and with the unwatchable reality of the most recent entry (Highlander: The Source), they might as well be calling this thing a reboot. And that thing is seriously unwatchable. It’s not even capable of being mocked because of how dreadfully bad it is.

I suppose a lot depends on casting as well. You’d need someone to embody the emotionally injured bad ass that is Conner MacLeod. The man that first comes to mind – Clive Owen. But I don’t see that happening outside of fantasy land. Beyond that casting, you’d have to figure out who to cast as Juan “Too Many Middle Names” Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez to rival the genius of Sean Connery. My suggestion would either be Sean Connery coming out of retirement or getting Christopher Lambert. Why not? He could pull of the older mentor figure at his age, and it would lend some geek street cred to the project.

On the plus side, revamping this franchise opens the door for the cross-over sequel Highlander School Musical where happy-go-lucky teenagers sing about trying out for the basketball team and chopping each other’s heads off to gain immortality.

What do you think? Who would you cast?

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daviedave47

I'm all for "Highlander School Musical." Sounds good. Roll film. Action. Don't forget to get paid for that.

ladyofthelake

At least they waited over twenty years to remake this movie. I'm more upset about the remake of the Clash of the Titans, but that movie is probably gonna be great.

Not to much of a fan of the films. I usualy watch the first movie and Endgame, I skip 2 and 3. I still can't figure out movie 2. I'm a hardcore fan of the series, which was awesome. Yes The Source was awful and unwatchable. It was planned to be the first of three films, but they sold the rights to Summit so that was the end of that, which in hindsight was a good thing. They edited the Source so many times, isn't there like three different versions of that film floating around? I don't know if Summit can afford big enough names to play Conner and company. They will probably hire unknown former models turned actors, plus Rumer Willis. This I predict will suck.

Icarus II

Vin Diesel is going to be in this. He plays D&D and is in about half of Justin Lin's films.

Michael Natale

I really wish Hollywood would quit rebooting stuff. I liked the original Highlander, but was it really THAT good that we need to remake it? Didnt the abysmal line of sequel films tell them anything?

Cant they think of something original?

Aleric

I went to the movies to see the original and really enjoyed it and the series that came out, but all the sequals were less than disappointing they were embaressing to say the least. I can't even see where they tried to write a good story instead of simply hacking out a script.

If they want to do a remake they need to start over and do it from another angle. Most people liked Connerys character, Rameriez, and he was much older than most other immortals besides Methos in the TV series. Start with his character being born in Egypt and go from there, show his life and all the many variations he has had to adapt to over the centuries, then end it with his death to Kurgan.

Now they have to find someone as talented and with the personality of Sean Connery to pull it off.....good luck with that.

PHiL

Hollywood squeezing the tube of remakes like toothpaste, they won't stop until it's all out.

We can always count on independent films for originallity.

Anrkist

I'm still waiting on the digital enhanced version of Highlander 2. I find when I'm bored, going to IMDB and reading some of the comments really helps pass the time.

There Won’t Be Only One ‘Highlander’

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