Highlander Update: More on Why Henry Cavill Reboot Moved From Lionsgate to Amazon

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New details have emerged on the reason behind the shift of the Highlander reboot featuring Henry Cavill, originally by Lionsgate, to Amazon.

Director Chad Stahelski, known for John Wick, is at present working on a revival of the 1986 film Highlander, which will feature Cavill in the cast. Earlier, it was planned for Lionsgate, but as announced last month, it’s now being produced by Amazon MGM Studios. Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt from United Artists are overseeing the production under a fresh agreement.

What do we know about why the Highlander reboot switched studios?

Based on a recent report from TheWrap, a disagreement over budget was a significant reason for the Highlander reboot moving to a new studio. It’s said that Stahelski aimed to produce the film at a cost of $180 million, while Lionsgate was unwilling to exceed $165 million in funding.

Inside Lionsgate’s headquarters, there was a growing concern that Highlander might appeal only to a specific demographic – Gen X males who are fond of the original film, its sequels, and the TV series that came after. According to one studio source speaking to TheWrap, this apprehension stemmed from Lionsgate‘s recent experience with Henry Cavill, the lead in Highlander, as they had just produced a movie (The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare) featuring Cavill and were feeling slightly uncertain. Last year, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, an action-packed historical film starring Cavill, directed by Guy Ritchie, and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, had a production cost of $60 million, but managed to earn only $20 million domestically and an additional $6 million internationally.

Additionally, Amazon’s MGM Studios is curating an assortment of projects tailored for Generation X, featuring series like Reacher and Jack Ryan, along with forthcoming films based on Masters of the Universe and Voltron.

As I, the eager gamer, eagerly await Stahelski’s Highlander reboot, I can only speculate about the intriguing plot details that are currently under lock and key. So far, Cavill is the only character whose role has been confirmed, with no additional casting announcements made. As for when we’ll get to witness this immortal battle on the big screen, an official release date remains elusive at the moment.

Originally reported by Brandon Schreur at SuperHeroHype.

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2025-05-16 18:40