Dave Bautista is in final talks to play the villain in Amazon MGM’s upcoming remake of Highlander, joining an already high-profile cast that includes Henry Cavill and Russell Crowe. The project, under the United Artists banner, is gearing up for a theatrical release and will begin filming at the end of September, with locations set in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong.
Directed by Chad Stahelski, best known for his work on the John Wick franchise, the Highlander remake revisits the cult classic 1986 film that starred Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery. Cavill will take on the role of Connor MacLeod, the immortal Scottish swordsman, while Crowe steps into the role of Ramirez, the wise and deadly mentor originally played by Connery. Marisa Abela also has a leading role in the new adaptation.
Bautista will portray The Kurgen, a barbaric immortal warrior known for hunting and killing others of his kind to absorb their power. The role was first made famous by Clancy Brown, whose towering presence and gravelly voice made The Kurgen one of the most memorable villains in fantasy cinema. Bautista’s casting feels like a natural evolution for the character, bringing both physicality and depth to the role.
This is not Bautista’s first brush with the Highlander franchise. He was reportedly circling the role of The Kurgen back in 2015, when Summit Entertainment was working on a different iteration of the remake. That version never made it to production, but fans continued to dream of a faceoff between Bautista and Cavill, even creating fan-made trailers over the past year.
Michael Finch penned the script, and the production team includes Scott Stuber, Nick Nesbitt, Neal H. Moritz, Stahelski’s 87Eleven Entertainment, Josh Davis of Davis Panzer Productions, and Louise Rosner.
Bautista’s partnership with Amazon MGM continues to grow. He previously starred in the action-comedy My Spy and its sequel, and he recently wrapped The Wrecking Crew with Jason Momoa. He is also in talks to return for a Roadhouse sequel with the streamer.
With a strong creative team, an impressive cast, and a legendary property at its core, the Highlander remake is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated action fantasy releases on the horizon. And with Bautista stepping in as The Kurgen, fans can likely expect a showdown worth waiting for.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline
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