Henry Cavill and Jeremy Irons were spotted filming a motorbike action sequence outside the Tower of London for the upcoming Highlander reboot, resulting in some striking new images.
Cavill appeared beardless and blood-spattered, dressed in a leather trench coat that skewed more cyber-noir than medieval myth.
The 41-year-old actor looked a decade younger and less polished than his recent red-carpet persona, causing a fan frenzy online.
In the reboot, Cavill takes on the role of Connor MacLeod, the sword-wielding immortal originally made famous by Christopher Lambert in the 1986 film.
That original Highlander has since achieved cult status, in part because of its strangeness: Lambert, then still learning English, delivered his performance in a thick accent that only added to the film’s otherworldly charm.
It’s hard to imagine a sharper contrast than Cavill, whose hyper-articulated earnestness and deep fandom for genre material have defined much of his career.
Those new aesthetics are intentional. The reboot is directed by Chad Stahelski, best known for turning the John Wick franchise into a masterclass in modern action choreography.
With Stahelski behind the camera, the sight of a roaring motorbike tearing past one of London’s oldest landmarks makes perfect sense.
The supporting cast suggests similar ambition.
Alongside Cavill and Irons, the film stars Russell Crowe, Dave Bautista, Marisa Abela, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, Drew McIntyre, and Max Zhang.
The project itself has been a long time coming. Cavill was first cast as MacLeod in May 2021, with Stahelski later confirming his continued involvement in March 2023, easing fan fears that the reboot might quietly slip into development limbo.
Now, with cameras rolling in central London, the film finally feels tangible.
Produced as an American action-fantasy film and set for release by Amazon MGM Studios under the United Artists banner, the new Highlander is already shaping up to be a hit.
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