Henry Cavill Is Heading Back To Fantasy, Director Reveals

By Britta DeVore | Published

henry cavill

No one can argue that it’s been a trying time to be Henry Cavill. After losing his running role as the Man of Steel in the DC Universe, the actor also stepped down from his leading role as Geralt in Netflix’s The Witcher.

But, according to the Happy Sad Confused podcast (via MovieWeb), Henry Cavill’s luck may be turning around as the actor along with the director of the long-awaited Highlander project are breathing fresh air into the production. 

During his spot on the podcast, Chad Stahelski (John Wick), who will be directing the next chapter, gave some positive news to those waiting for updates. When it comes to the Henry Cavill-led Highlander film, Stahelski wants to live by the lore of the film first made famous by Russell Mulcahy in his 1986 feature.

Chad Stahelski says he is sticking to the original lore for Henry Cavill’s Highlander adaptation

However, he also knows that to live by the sword is to die by it and that with the movie’s famous phrase being ‘there can only be one,’ he would need to kill off “everybody the first time.”

To put his own twist on the production, Stahelski says that he’ll bring back “a lot of the same characters” from the multitude of films and TV shows that have spun off from the flagship feature.

Instead of dropping Henry Cavill in the leading role of a Highlander reboot or sequel, the director reveals that instead, their project will be a prequel. This way, he explains, the creative team will be able to create not only more wiggle room for themselves but will also be able “to grow the property.”

The Henry Cavill-led Highlander reboot will be a prequel

Just as many productions in Hollywood are dealing with at this time, the likelihood of audiences seeing Henry Cavill in the Highlander prequel any time soon is slim. With the ongoing historic SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, everything has come to a standstill in the entertainment biz and Stahelski’s latest action flick is no different.

But, with his latest update, at least fans know that the irons are in the fire, and those backing the feature plan to put pen to paper and get cameras rolling as soon as the strikes are finished. 

witcher premiere

With a heavy following thirsty for more content coming from the ex-Superman actor, there’s no doubt that Henry Cavill’s Highlander film will be a big winner at the box office.

The news surrounding his departure from The Witcher (in which he’ll be replaced by Liam Hemsworth) was a blow to fans who not only found themselves engulfed in his portrayal of Geralt but also appreciated his dedication to the original series of novels. 

Henry Cavill is being replaced by Liam Hemsworth in Netflix’s The Witcher

Likewise, it came as a double-whammy to the actor’s dedicated fandom when it was revealed that, following their takeover of DC Studios, James Gunn and Peter Safran would be moving in a different direction with Superman.

The actor portrayed the superhero since 2013’s Man of Steel, with his firing marking a dark day for DC fans everywhere. Now, with his return to the fantasy realm, Henry Cavill’s followers will delight in his new take on Highlander.

While audiences await the arrival of Henry Cavill’s role in Highlander, they can look forward to seeing him in action in his next two productions: Argylle and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.