Director Chad Stahelski Wants to Include a New Style of Sword Fighting in Upcoming ‘Highlander’ Reboot

A lot of older fans will remember “Highlander” very fondly. This 1986 fantasy movie starring Christopher Lambert as the titular Highlander, Connor MacLeod, became a massive hit and is still considered to be a proper cult classic even today, almost 40 years since its premiere. While the movie spawned a whole franchise, none of the subsequent works managed to come close to the original movie, with some being panned as some of the worst movies ever made.

Now, Lionsgate is working on a reboot, with John Wick director Chad Stahelski at the helm and Henry Cavill poised to appear as the titular protagonist. In a recent interview with Collider, Stahelski discussed his ideas and plans for the upcoming movie, revealing some exciting insights that will surely delight sword-fighting enthusiasts.

On the one hand, you have “Highlander,” a majestic movie in which sword fighting was a major element. This art was one of the most important elements of the original movie, so when Stahelski decided to take on the project, he knew he would have to focus on it. On the other hand, Stahelski is known for his intense action sequences, and his specific approach to such scenes is best seen in the John Wick series. Stahelski confirmed that he would be looking to find a balance between sword fighting and action scenes in the movie, but he also revealed that he is aware that he will have to be careful with what he does with the swords in the movie:

“Swords, to me, are one of the trickiest things to do in fight scenes because if I mess up too much with the firearm, the muzzle flashes are digital. So we don’t have to worry about hurting anyone. When we do car stuff, that’s also a big concern. But there are ways now, cables that take some of the hazards out for the cast. Swords, it’s a little trickier because now I got to trust that my actors are swinging this piece of metal at each other, and hopefully not gonna take their eyes out or stab somebody. Every sword movie, somebody gets poked or hit on the head or something like that. It takes a little bit more skill and a little bit more dedication. So that’s always a concern. Sometimes a three-minute sword fight can be a little boring. So I’m more worried about, ‘Am I going to bore you with a movie about sword fighting?’ And how do I sprinkle in firearms, and martial arts, and car chases, and what’s the story part of things? I have to get all that as well.”

Stahelski’s awareness of the legacy he needs to respect is evident from his comments, but he also hints at introducing something new and exciting:

“Most of our concerns now are not really about training cast. We’ve got that machine up and running, and I think we have the right cast. We have the right people. We have the right trainers. We’ve dug up some of the best sword people I’ve ever met in my life in the last six months, that are helping us. It’s more about how do you bring it all together and make it something. It’s not Princess Bride, it’s not Crouching Tiger, it’s not Master & Commander, it’s not Zorro. What’s this new look of action or sword fighting that people could be excited about? That keeps me up at night.”

Stahelski’s dedication to crafting a unique and thrilling sword-fighting experience while maintaining the essence of the original “Highlander” is commendable. Fans can look forward to a film that pays its due respects to the original movie while also offering something fresh, original, and authentic. With Stahelski’s track record and passion for innovative action sequences, the “Highlander” reboot promises to be an exciting project that both old fans and new audiences will eagerly anticipate.