There are many memorable things about the 1986 classic Highlander (watch it HERE), but the element that probably sticks with the average viewer more than any other are the songs that Queen recorded for the film – songs like “A Kind of Magic”, “Who Wants to Live Forever”, and “Princes of the Universe”. So it’s great to hear from John Wick franchise director Chad Stahelski, who is currently pushing a Highlander reboot toward production, that he intends to use the Queen songs in the new film, in some capacity.
When asked if the Queen songs will be featured in his Highlander reboot, Stahelski told The Wrap, “Yes. Probably in a different way than you think, but hardcore yes.“
The original Highlander had the following synopsis: When the mystical Russell Nash kills a man in a sword fight in a New York City parking lot, he leaves a sliver of an ancient weapon lodged in a car in the process. After brilliant forensics specialist Brenda Wyatt recovers evidence of the mysterious weapon, she and her partner, Lt. Frank Moran, embark on an investigation of Nash that will land them in the middle of a dangerous, centuries-old feud between powerful immortals.
Seven years have gone by since Stahelski signed on to direct the reboot. Two years have passed since Henry Cavill of Man of Steel and The Witcher signed on to star in the film, which is said to have a budget over $100 million. It’s looking like the project might finally go into production very soon.
Stahelski went on to tell The Wrap, “We’re trying to encapsulate everything you loved about the original with more – meaning we want to ground it, we want it to be a great chance at world-building and mythology. But we still want to keep it fun. It’s like the Wick movies. You want to experience this world, you want to believe it’s real. But it’s also five degrees off from reality. This is a movie with immortals running around chopping each others’ heads off. There’s a certain ridiculousness to it. It’s like the Wicks. We ride the tone. Everybody in the movie thinks its real. But we as an audience can get our heads around it – look, suspend disbelief. We’re trying to get you on board for this amazing journey with people who have lived hundreds of years. It’s a challenge. But I’m very excited.“
Are you looking forward to the Highlander reboot, and are you glad to hear the Queen songs will be in it (in a different way than expected)? Let us know by leaving a comment below.