You know that feeling when a project starts to feel jinxed? Like it's got some old-world curse hanging over it, straight out of the script itself. Well, the ‘Highlander' reboot—Chad Stahelski's shot at reviving the immortal sword-slinging saga—just took another hit. Henry Cavill, our modern-day Connor MacLeod in the making, reportedly picked up an injury while grinding through pre-production training. No details on the specifics, but it's bad enough to shove the whole shoot from a late September 2025 start into early 2026 territory. Amazon MGM Studios, footing the bill for this one, hasn't commented yet, but the ripple effects are already clear: no quick turnaround here.
This isn't the first time ‘Highlander' has dodged the starting line. Stahelski, the guy who choreographed ‘John Wick' into a balletic bloodbath and turned it into a billion-dollar machine, first eyed cameras rolling in late 2024. That slipped to January 2025 when he had to wrap up extra duties on the ‘John Wick' spin-off ‘Ballerina.' Now, with Cavill sidelined, we're looking at a full-year pivot. It's the kind of domino effect that makes you question if reboots like this are worth the wait—or if they're just feeding the development purgatory that swallows so many genre revivals.
Let's not forget the cast that's been assembling around this. Russell Crowe stepping in as some shadowy mentor figure, Marisa Abela bringing fresh energy, Karen Gillan with her action chops, Djimon Hounsou's gravitas, Dave Bautista's brute force, and Max Zhang rounding out the ensemble. Written by Michael Finch, it's got that high-stakes, sword-clashing vibe Stahelski thrives on. Budget-wise, Stahelski pushed for $180 million to do it right—Lionsgate lowballed at $165 million, but Amazon, ever the deep-pocketed savior, swooped in. Expect that number to creep up now, with delays inflating costs like they always do in this town.
From where I sit in L.A., watching these action epics evolve, Stahelski's vision feels like the real draw. His ‘John Wick' films redefined gun-fu with balletic precision; imagine that applied to broadswords and lightning storms. But Hollywood's track record with ‘Highlander'—from the original '80s cult hit to the uneven sequels—shows how tricky it is to capture that queer mix of mythology and machismo without tipping into cheese. This delay? It tests patience, sure, but if it means Cavill comes back sharper, sword in hand, it might just pay off. Or maybe the immortals are whispering, “There can be only one… timeline.”
Highlander Reboot's Shadowed Path: Essential Updates
Cavill's Setback Sparks Delay An undisclosed injury from intense training has sidelined the lead actor, forcing production from late September 2025 to early 2026 and underscoring the physical toll of these roles.
Stahelski's Shifting Schedule The director's commitments to ‘Ballerina' already nudged the start from late 2024 to January 2025; this latest hurdle cements the project's erratic timeline.
Star-Studded Lineup Holds Steady Despite the pause, the ensemble—including Crowe, Gillan, Hounsou, and Bautista—remains intact, promising a clash of heavyweights under Finch's script.
Budget Battle Resolved, But Rising Amazon's approval of the near-$180M ask over Lionsgate's cap sets a strong foundation, though extended prep will likely inflate expenses further.
Genre Revival's High Stakes Stahelski's ‘John Wick' pedigree raises hopes for a fresh take on the '80s classic, but repeated delays highlight the risks in rebooting immortal lore.
Ever wonder if some stories are just too timeless to rush? Share your take on this ‘Highlander' saga in the comments—cursed project or just par for the course? Follow filmofilia.com for more on the action frontier, and check back as we track the immortals' next move.
References: https://people.com/henry-cavill-sustains-injury-highlander-reports-11808594
