The Highlander remake has been one of the most talked-about movies in development for years. Now it is finally happening. Cameras are rolling, the cast is stacked, and the Scottish Highlands are once again the backdrop for the story of an immortal warrior who has lived for centuries. If you have seen the photos of film crews taking over castles and mountain roads across Scotland, or if you just want to know where every scene in this movie is being shot, this is everything you need.
About Highlander Remake
Highlander is an upcoming American action fantasy film directed by Chad Stahelski, written by Kerry Williamson and Mike Finch, and starring Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe, Dave Bautista, Marisa Abela, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, Jeremy Irons, Max Zhang, and Drew McIntyre. It is a reboot of the original 1986 film franchise.
| Director | Chad Stahelski |
| Lead star | Henry Cavill |
| Studio | Amazon MGM Studios / United Artists |
| Release window | 2027 |
| Filming started | January 28, 2026 |
| Primary filming country | Scotland |
| Other filming countries | Poland, Hong Kong |
| Script writers | Kerry Williamson and Mike Finch |
| Based on | The original 1986 Highlander film |
The story follows a 16th-century Scottish warrior who discovers he is not human but an ageless immortal, destined to fight others of his kind for something called the Prize. After centuries of wandering the Earth, he must face the final immortal, the cruel and sadistic Kurgan, in an epic confrontation.
The original 1986 Highlander became a cult classic on VHS despite underperforming at the box office. It starred Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod and Sean Connery as his mentor Ramirez, with a legendary soundtrack from Queen. This new version aims to do for Highlander what Chad Stahelski already did for John Wick, take a beloved action property and rebuild it into something bigger, slicker, and more emotionally grounded.
Where was the Highlander Remake filmed?
Filming is taking place in the Scottish Highlands, Poland, and Hong Kong. Scotland is the main filming country, covering the medieval and period sequences that form the backbone of the story.
Director Chad Stahelski made clear from the start that Scotland was non-negotiable for this film. He told Collider: “We start shooting in January in Scotland, that’s why I go right after I leave. I go to Scotland to do the final location scout.”
He also teased the film’s scope in an early interview, saying: “We’re bringing it forward from the early 1500s in the Highlands to the beyond present-day New York and Hong Kong.” That is a massive canvas, and it shows in the list of countries where production is taking place.
Scotland Filming Locations
Scotland is the heart of this production, and the crew spent several weeks moving through some of the most dramatic landscapes in the country. Here is every confirmed Scottish location.
Eilean Donan Castle, Wester Ross
Following in the footsteps of the 1986 film, the remake of Highlander filmed at Eilean Donan Castle. The entire site including the castle and visitor centre was closed for access during filming, with the live webcam streams of the castle taken offline.
Eilean Donan is one of the most photographed castles in the world. It sits on a small island where three sea lochs meet, in the west of Scotland near the Kyle of Lochalsh. It appeared prominently in the original 1986 Highlander, and the new film brings it back for the same reason: there is simply no other location on Earth that looks quite like it.
The castle also has a long film history beyond Highlander. The original 1986 film used it as the village from which Connor MacLeod is banished. It has since appeared in James Bond, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, and several other productions.
How to visit: Eilean Donan Castle is open to the public most of the year. It is located near the village of Dornie, about 8 miles east of Kyle of Lochalsh on the A87 road. It is one of the most visited attractions in the Scottish Highlands and well worth a stop.
Also read: Where Was Wild Mountain Thyme Filmed? Every Real Location in Ireland and New York
Isle of Skye, Trotternish Peninsula
Filming also took place on the Isle of Skye, specifically around the Trotternish area. Affected locations include those around Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls, the Old Man of Storr, Bride’s Veil Falls, and the Quiraing.
Car parks at these locations were closed for the duration of filming, with Highland Council confirming the closures while keeping the specific production confidential.
The Isle of Skye is already one of the most visited places in Scotland, famous for its dramatic ridge lines, strange rock formations, and the kind of wild coastline that looks almost unreal. The Old Man of Storr is a tall, jagged rock pinnacle that has become one of the most photographed spots in the country.
The Quiraing is a series of rock formations on the edge of a plateau that feels like walking through a different world entirely. Both are exactly the kind of locations that make a fantasy film like Highlander come alive. The Isle of Skye also featured heavily in the original 1986 film. The Cuillin Hills on Skye were used for the scene where Ramirez teaches Connor swordplay.
How to visit: The Isle of Skye is connected to the mainland by a bridge near Kyle of Lochalsh. The Old Man of Storr is about 7 miles north of Portree and requires a moderate hike of about 45 minutes. The Quiraing is on the northern tip of the island and involves some of the most dramatic walking in Scotland. Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls are viewable from a roadside viewpoint on the east coast of the Trotternish peninsula.
Glencoe, Argyll
Film crews working on the Highlander reboot set up base at Glencoe as production continued south of Fort William. Multiple large trucks arrived at the location, with crew members spotted setting up equipment. A layby off the A82 road was also closed for the production.
The Glencoe Mountain Resort informed visitors that they would be unable to host campervans overnight due to a film crew using their overflow car park as a production base.
Glencoe is one of the most recognizable landscapes in all of Scotland. The wide valley is surrounded on both sides by enormous mountains, with the distinctive peak of Buachaille Etive Mor standing guard at the eastern entrance. It has a heavy history too, most famously as the site of the 1692 Massacre of Glencoe. That combination of raw, imposing beauty and dark history makes it a perfect fit for Highlander.
Glencoe appeared in the original 1986 film as well, used for the opening clan battle scenes.
How to visit: Glencoe is located on the A82 road between Glasgow and Fort William. The Glencoe Visitor Centre, run by the National Trust for Scotland, is open most of the year. The area has numerous walking and hiking routes ranging from easy valley walks to serious mountain climbs.
Also read: Where Was Practical Magic 2 Filmed? Every Location Explained
Glen Affric and Morvich in Kintail
Crews for Highlander also appear to have taken over parts of Glen Affric, including Morvich in Kintail. A local campsite became a production hub and was fully booked out until the beginning of May, while hillwalkers reported large amounts of infrastructure including a large stone fireplace, which was likely a set piece, built on location.
Glen Affric is widely considered one of the most beautiful glens in Scotland. It is home to one of the largest remaining areas of ancient Caledonian pine forest and features a string of stunning lochs set against open moorland and forest. Morvich sits at the foot of the Kintail ridge, near the famous Five Sisters of Kintail mountains. This area is remote, rugged, and far from tourist crowds, which makes it ideal for big production builds and outdoor set pieces.
How to visit: Glen Affric is accessible from Cannich, about 25 miles southwest of Inverness. The main glen road leads to a series of car parks from which you can walk into the forest and along the lochs. Morvich is near the village of Shiel Bridge off the A87. Both areas are worth a full day visit.
Green Welly Stop, Tyndrum
This one is more of a sighting than an official filming location, but it is worth mentioning because it helped confirm the Scottish shoot was underway.
Karen Gillan was spotted at the Green Welly Stop in Tyndrum along the A82, posing for a picture with staff. Though unconfirmed as a filming location, her appearance added to the growing evidence that the film shoot had arrived in Scotland.
The Green Welly Stop is a well-known roadside stop on the drive between Glasgow and the Highlands, popular with travelers, hikers, and anyone passing through on their way north. Its appearance in this story is more of a fun footnote than a filming location itself, but it does place the cast firmly in the right part of the country at the right time.
Also read: Where Was Netflix’s Apex Filmed? Every Real Location Behind the Charlize Theron Thriller
Other Filming Locations Around the World
Scotland is not the only country where the new Highlander is being made. The film spans centuries and continents, which means the production had to do the same. Filming is continuing in Poland alongside the Scottish Highlands and Hong Kong.
Poland
Poland has become a major European filming hub in recent years, offering large studio facilities, experienced local crews, and a range of landscapes and historic architecture that can double for many different settings. It is likely being used for studio work and controlled interior sequences, as well as potentially standing in for some European historical settings.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong brings a completely different visual energy to the film compared to the Scottish Highlands. The city’s dense skyline, neon-lit streets, and intense urban atmosphere are a perfect contrast to the windswept Highland landscapes that dominate the film’s earlier sequences.
First-look footage shown to exhibitors included a neon-drenched fight at a crowded rave, sword battles, and motorcycle chases, promising exactly the kind of kinetic, stylized action Chad Stahelski is known for from the John Wick films. Those kinds of scenes fit naturally in Hong Kong’s visual landscape.
All Filming Locations: Quick Reference Table
| Location | Country | What It Likely Covers |
| Eilean Donan Castle | Scotland | MacLeod’s village, exile scenes |
| Isle of Skye, Trotternish | Scotland | Highland landscape, training scenes |
| Glencoe | Scotland | Battle scenes, Highland vistas |
| Glen Affric and Morvich | Scotland | Remote wilderness sequences |
| Poland | Poland | Studio work, controlled sequences |
| Hong Kong | China | Modern-day action sequences |
The Full Cast of the Highlander Remake
This film has one of the most impressive casts assembled for an action fantasy movie in years.
| Character | Actor | Original 1986 Actor |
| Connor MacLeod | Henry Cavill | Christopher Lambert |
| Juan Ramirez | Russell Crowe | Sean Connery |
| The Kurgan | Dave Bautista | Clancy Brown |
| Heather MacLeod | Karen Gillan | Beatie Edney |
| Sunda Kastagir | Djimon Hounsou | Jimmy Murray |
| Angus MacLeod | Drew McIntyre | New character |
| Watchers leader | Jeremy Irons | New character |
| Sam | Marisa Abela | New character |
| Unknown role | Kevin McKidd | New character |
| Unknown role | Max Zhang | New character |
| Unknown role | Siobhán Cullen | New character |
| Unknown role | Jun Jong-seo | New character |
| Unknown role | Nassim Lyes | New character |
Russell Crowe plays Ramirez, the warrior mentor role first played by Sean Connery. Crowe has already confirmed he is going to bring the character’s signature Spanish accent to the role. Dave Bautista plays the Kurgan, the brutal primary villain. Karen Gillan plays Heather MacLeod, Connor’s mortal wife. Djimon Hounsou plays Sunda Kastagir, an African Immortal and Connor’s only friend, and Jeremy Irons leads the Watchers, a group fated to observe the deeds of the Immortals.
Drew McIntyre, the professional WWE wrestler originally from Ayr in Scotland, plays Angus MacLeod, Connor’s brother and chieftain of Clan MacLeod.
Bautista has been vocal about Henry Cavill’s work ethic on set, calling him “easily one of the hardest-working actors I’ve ever worked with in my life” and comparing his training regimen to that of a professional athlete.
Also read: Unchosen Filming Locations: Where Was the Netflix Show Filmed?
Why was filming delayed so many times?
The Highlander remake has been in some stage of development for a very long time. Here is the full timeline.
| Year | What Happened |
| 2008 | Remake first announced by Summit Entertainment |
| 2016 | Chad Stahelski confirmed as director |
| 2021 | Henry Cavill signs on as Connor MacLeod |
| 2023 | Lionsgate confirms the project is moving forward |
| 2024 | Original filming date (July 2024) pushed back |
| Late 2024 | Second delay; January 2025 start pushed to May 2025 |
| Late 2025 | Cavill sustains a leg injury during pre-production training, pushing start again |
| January 28, 2026 | Principal photography finally begins in Scotland |
One of the earlier delays was caused by scheduling conflicts, as director Chad Stahelski had to reshoot a very significant portion of Ballerina, the John Wick spin-off, before he could focus on Highlander.
The most recent delay happened when Cavill sustained a leg injury during pre-production training in late 2025, which pushed the original start date back to January 28, 2026.
What the Movie Looks Like: First Footage Reactions
Amazon MGM presented early footage from Highlander to exhibitors and press, describing the movie as “epic in scope, visceral in action.” The response from both exhibitors and social media was enthusiastic, with many pointing to the John Wick energy and Cavill’s commanding screen presence.
The footage shown included a neon-drenched fight at a crowded rave, sword battles, and motorcycle chases. Dave Bautista’s Kurgan appeared, delivering the line: “When my sword changes history, you will have a front-row seat, Highlander,” with Cavill’s Connor firing back coolly: “All right, if you say so.”
The footage confirmed that Cavill’s character was born in 1518 and is forced to fight fellow immortals at The Gathering, where only one survivor can be left alive.
How the Remake Connects to the Original Filming Locations?
One of the most satisfying things about this production for fans of the original is how many of the same Scottish locations have come back.
The original 1986 film used Eilean Donan Castle for the scenes of Connor’s exile from his clan. The village from which MacLeod is banished after recovering from his apparently fatal wounds is the 13th-century Eilean Donan Castle, situated at the point where three great sea lochs meet and surrounded by majestic scenery.
The spectacular jagged peak where Ramirez teaches swordplay in the original film is on the Cuillin Hills on the Isle of Skye, and the battle scenes were staged in Glencoe, before the striking peak of Buachaille Etive Beag.
By returning to Eilean Donan, the Isle of Skye, and Glencoe, the new film is deliberately walking the same ground as the original. That is both a tribute to the 1986 movie and a smart way to tap into a deep well of visual storytelling that fans of the franchise already associate with the Highlander world.
Also check: Vanderpump Villa Season 3: Everything You Need to Know – Cast, Location, DadTok, Dakota, Marciano and More
When Does the Highlander Remake Come Out?
An exact release date has not been set yet. Filming is still underway across Scotland, Poland, and Hong Kong. Given that principal photography only began in January 2026 and productions of this scale typically need 12 to 18 months of post-production, the most likely release window is 2027.
The film will have a theatrical release through Amazon MGM Studios under the United Artists banner.
FAQs
Is the Highlander remake a sequel or a reboot?
It is a full reboot. It tells the Connor MacLeod story fresh, with a new cast and new creative team. It is not connected to the sequels or TV series that followed the 1986 original.
Who plays Ramirez in the new film?
Russell Crowe plays Ramirez, the role originally played by Sean Connery in the 1986 film. Crowe has confirmed he is playing the character with a Spanish accent.
Is this the same story as the original?
Broadly yes, but with a bigger scope. Director Chad Stahelski described the film as bringing the story forward from the early 1500s in the Highlands to the present day and into Hong Kong, with a much wider timeline than the original film covered.
Can you visit the filming locations?
Most of them, yes. Eilean Donan Castle, the Isle of Skye, and Glencoe are all public attractions. Glen Affric is also open to visitors. Just be aware that individual car parks or access points may still have restrictions if filming is ongoing.
Is Henry Cavill doing his own stunts?
Cavill is known for doing a lot of his own physical work on set. He has teased his sword training extensively, saying in an interview: “If you think you’ve seen me do sword work before, you haven’t seen anything yet.”
The Scottish Highlands have always been the soul of the Highlander story, and looking at the list of locations being used for the remake, that has not changed. Eilean Donan Castle, the Isle of Skye, and Glencoe bring the same weight and beauty they brought to the original in 1986.
Add Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe, Dave Bautista, and a director who built his entire career on making action cinema feel real and grounded, and there is every reason to be excited about what is coming.
There can be only one. And from what we have seen so far, this one looks like it is worth the wait.
