Highlander fans, brace yourselves. Chad Stahelski’s upcoming Highlander reboot is set to begin filming this January in Scotland, with Henry Cavill starring in the lead role. Stahelski shared these latest updates during an engaging session at the Mediterranean Film Festival in Malta.
The director known for his work on the John Wick series is excited to intertwine period piece elements with sci-fi themes in the upcoming film. He mentioned, It’s another opportunity to do a property that I love. I love what it’s about, I love working with immortality and love stories through time
. His vision promises a blend that will stay true to the essence of the original while bringing fresh dynamics to it.
Challenging Sword Fights
Stahelski doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the complexity of translating sword fighting authentically on film. The transition from gunfights, as seen in John Wick, to steel combat presents its unique challenges. He remarked that sword fighting needs significant prep and dedication: Sword work is very much the same [as gunwork]
. Bringing realism into these sequences is key, yet balancing it with cinematic appeal remains crucial.
The original Highlander movie created iconic sword-fighting scenes while navigating rules for Immortals – they don’t lose consciousness from injuries like being stabbed or impaled. This brings an interesting dynamic that Stahelski appears keen to explore further.
Sophisticated Training Regimen
Training actors for convincing combat scenes isn’t new for Stahelski, who successfully trained Keanu Reeves over years for John Wick. Despite having top stunt teams, he emphasized that turning actors into credible fighters remains a monumental task: If you have become an NBA basketball player, could you do it in three weeks? Three months? Three years?
He needs to trust his actors entirely, ensuring safety while filming intense swordplay scenes. The goal is to present engaging action without excessive CGI or editing tricks.
A Distinct Vision for Action
Aiming to set a new benchmark in action choreography, Stahelski wants the reboot’s sword fights to stand out distinctly. This emphasizes creating fight scenes that differ from classics like The Princess Bride, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and others. His vision for this unique blend of historical and sci-fi elements leaves fans eagerly anticipating how these narratives will unfold.
With a committed star like Cavill and top-tier trainers onboard, expectations for this film remain high. Stahelski’s drive to merge believable swordsmanship with compelling storytelling seems poised to captivate both original fans and newcomers.
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