Henry Cavill’s upcomingHighlanderreboot is a huge risk, but the cult classic TV spin-offHighlander: The Seriesproves there’s plenty of room for expansion in this fantasy franchise.A reboot of theHighlanderI.P.has been in development since as far back as 2008, whenIron Man’s Art Marcum and Matt Holloway were writing a script. Over the years, directors like Justin Lin and Cedric Nicolas-Troyan and actors ranging from Tom Cruise to Ryan Reynolds to Dave Bautista have been linked to the project.
As of October 2023, theHighlanderreboot is finally moving forward. Cavill has been confirmed to star as Connor MacLeod andJohn Wick’s Chad Stahelski is set to direct theHighlanderrebootas his next big franchise job. Screenwriter Mike Finch, who previously collaborated with Stahelski onJohn Wick: Chapter 4, is working on the script.A reboot of theHighlanderfranchise might seem like a big box office risk, since all the previous sequels were critically panned, butthe TV spin-off from the ‘90s proves it could work.
Highlander: The Series Proves The Franchise Has Room To Expand (Despite The Terrible Movie Sequels)
The TV Spin-Off Explored The Trials & Tribulations Of Immortality
In 1992, a TV spin-off of theHighlanderfranchise entitledHighlander: The Seriespremiered. It ended up running for a whopping 119 episodes across six seasons, concluding its run on August 24, 2025. The series was an alternate sequel to the original 1986 movie. Christopher Lambert reprised his role as Connor in the pilot episode, which introduced the show’s new protagonist,Duncan MacLeod, an Immortal who was raised by the same clan of Scottish Highlanders that had taken in Connor generations earlier.
The series was praised for its impressive production values, its inventive monster-of-the-week villains expanding the franchise mythology, and its unique storytelling, using its protagonist’s immortality for more than just a fantastical high-concept premise.
Highlander: The Serieswasan international hit in the ratings and was mostly well-received by critics. It was met with a much warmer response than any of the sequel movies, which had all been widely panned. The series was praised for its impressive production values, its inventive monster-of-the-week villains expanding the franchise mythology, and its unique storytelling, using its protagonist’s immortality for more than just a fantastical high-concept premise — it really explored the trials and tribulations of eternal life.
What Henry Cavill’s Highlander Movie Can Learn From The 1992 TV Series
Cavill’s Movie Should Explore The Dramatic Potential Of Eternal Life
Highlander: The Seriesproves thatCavill’sHighlanderrebootcan’t just rest on what worked in the original 1986 movie. If it’s going to launch the cinematic universe that Lionsgate is hoping for, thenit needs to push the boundaries of the loreand explore new elements of theHighlandermythology. Above all,it needs to sink its teeth into the dramatic side of immortality — the inherent tragedy of outliving every loved one— because that’s what makesHighlandera great story.
