Well, here’s some news that’s going to make fans wait a bit longer for their sword-swinging fix. Henry Cavill has been injured during pre-production training for the highly anticipated Highlander remake, forcing production to be delayed until early 2026.
The 42-year-old actor, who’s been gearing up to play the immortal Scottish warrior Connor MacLeod, sustained the injury while preparing for what promises to be one of his most physically demanding roles yet. The type of injury was unclear, but the project had been putting the final pieces on its sprawling cast as it barrelled towards production in the coming weeks.
This setback is particularly frustrating for everyone involved, considering how close they were to getting cameras rolling. The remake was set to go into principal photography this month, but immediately everyone’s back to the drawing board, schedule-wise.
For Cavill, this was supposed to be his big sword-wielding moment. The former Superman star had been training intensively for months, and he wasn’t shy about building up expectations. “If you think you’ve seen me do sword work before, you haven’t seen anything yet,” he teased at CinemaCon in 2024. Talk about setting the bar high.
Chad Stahelski, the mastermind behind the John Wick franchise, is directing this Highlander reboot, and he’s been developing it for nearly a decade. The project has certainly had its share of ups and downs, bouncing from Lionsgate to retailer MGM Studios along the way.
The good news? The cast remains absolutely stacked. Russell Crowe is on board as the mentor figure, alongside Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, Marisa Abela, and Max Zhang. So when Cavill recovers and they do get rolling in 2026, it’s going to be quite the ensemble.
This delay does throw a wrench into retailer MGM Studios’ original timeline. They were eyeing a theatrical release somewhere between 2027 and 2028, but immediately that’s looking more optimistic than realistic.
The original 1986 Highlander, starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery, became a cult classic despite its initial mixed reception. This remake represents a chance to introduce the immortal warrior concept to a whole new generation, complete with modern action sensibilities and what’s sure to be some spectacular sword fights.
Right immediately, everyone’s focused on making sure Cavill gets the time he needs to recover properly. After all, when you’re dealing with intense physical training for a role that involves plenty of sword work and stunts, rushing back too soon would be a mistake nobody wants to make.
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