Dave Bautista is in final negotiations to join the cast of Amazon MGM’s hotly anticipated remake of the 1980s cult classic ‘Highlander,’ sources confirm. The Guardians of the Galaxy and Dune star is set to take on the role of the immortal barbarian known as The Kurgan — the film’s main antagonist — in the action-fantasy epic directed by Chad Stahelski (John Wick).
Bautista will join previously announced leads Henry Cavill, who will portray Connor MacLeod, and Russell Crowe as Ramirez, with Industry star Marisa Abela also taking a prominent role. The feature hails from Amazon MGM’s United Artists banner and is slated for a theatrical release.
Principal photography is scheduled to kick off at the end of September, with production spanning locations in the UK and Hong Kong.
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In the new adaptation, Bautista’s Kurgan — memorably played by Clancy Brown in the original 1986 film — is an immortal warrior who has roamed the Earth for centuries, killing other immortals to absorb their essence in pursuit of ultimate power. His centuries-long path of destruction puts him directly in the sights of Cavill’s MacLeod, with Crowe’s Ramirez serving as the Highlander’s mentor.
The original Highlander, released in 1986, starred Christopher Lambert as the titular Scottish warrior, with Sean Connery as Ramirez. Its unique blend of historical fantasy, sword-fighting action, and modern-day battles earned it cult status and spawned multiple sequels and a TV series.
Michael Finch penned the script for the remake, with Stahelski producing alongside Scott Stuber, Nick Nesbitt, Neal H. Moritz, Stahelski’s 87Eleven Entertainment, Josh Davis of Davis Panzer Productions, and Louise Rosner.
