Chad Stahelski’s Highlander reboot has added Back to Black star Marisa Abela to its star-studded cast that includes the previously announced Henry Cavill (Man of Steel, The Witcher) and Russell Crowe (The Exorcism, Gladiator).
Based on the original Highlander (1986), the new film will be produced by United Artists’ (UA) Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt, and made for Amazon MGM Studios. 87Eleven Entertainment, Stahelski’s production banner, Josh Davis of Davis Panzer Productions, as well as Louise Rosner will also be producing the movie. Michael Finch, who has previously worked on Hitman: Agent 47 (2015) and John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023), will be writing the screenplay.
Given that UA has secured the full rights to the 1986 cult classic, there is the potential to develop the new film into a full-blown series, though it remains to be seen whether they will remain true to the source material.
The original Highlander (1986) starred Christopher Lambert (Mortal Kombat, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance) in the titular role of the Scottish Highlander, Connor MacLeod, with Sean Connery (James Bond films) starring opposite him as MacLeod’s mentor, Juan Ramirez. The epic wove through past and present-day settings as immortal warriors engaged in a timeless battle to be the last man standing and claim the ultimate Prize. Receiving widespread popularity upon release, the film later spawned sequels, a TV series and gained a cult following.
While Cavill has been cast to portray MacLeod and Crowe to portray Ramirez, Abela’s role has been described as a new character, a fellow immortal and former love of Cavill’s MacLeod.
Abela has had a couple of recent critically acclaimed roles, including her role as Amy Winehouse in the biographical drama Back to Black (2024), that gained her a nomination for a BAFTA EE Rising Star Award, as well as her role in the banking drama Industry (2020-present) that won her a 2025 BAFTA TV Award. She also had a stellar performance in Steven Soderbergh’s Black Bag (2025), stealing scenes from the likes of Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett.
Though Highlander will undoubtedly be Abela’s biggest onscreen role yet, with her repertoire of widely lauded roles, Cavill and Crowe may have some competition to be “the only one” to watch in the upcoming Highlander film.
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