No green screens: Henry Cavill 'Highlander' set glimpse shows Chad Stahelski using real landscapes
Craving a Highlander that feels grounded, Henry Cavill’s reboot is turning to real locations as Chad Stahelski brings the saga back to Scotland—and beyond.
In newly surfaced set photos from Asia, Highlander isn’t hiding behind green screens. Henry Cavill has been filming night sequences in Hong Kong on streets dressed with neon signs and traditional storefronts, cutting through sword fights, motorcycle chases and even a neon-lit rave. With director Chad Stahelski’s stunt-first instincts all over the footage, the reboot is leaning into physical, on-location action.
Around the world shoot
After a few delays — including an injury Cavill sustained during pre-production training — cameras finally rolled in Scotland on January 28, 2026 . The production has since ping-ponged between London and the Highlands, where Cavill was spotted at postcard-ready sites like Eilean Donan Castle, the Isle of Skye, Glencoe and Glen Nevis.
From Scotland to Poland to Hong Kong, the reboot is building a globe-spanning timeline on screen.
In May, the team shifted to Poland before heading to Hong Kong, where bystanders and fans on X quickly circulated clips of the dressed sets and night shoots. The international run fits the story’s centuries-long wanderer and gives Connor MacLeod a world that actually looks lived-in.
Who’s in it
Henry Cavill takes up the claymore as Connor MacLeod, the immortal Scottish warrior destined to clash with other Immortals — including the fearsome Kurgan. Here’s who else is on board:
- Russell Crowe — Ramirez
- Dave Bautista — the Kurgan
- Karen Gillan
- Marisa Abela
- Djimon Hounsou
- Drew McIntyre
- Max Zhang
- Jeremy Irons
The reboot
Stahelski is directing a reimagining of the 1986 original from a screenplay by Kerry Williamson and Mike Finch. The film keeps the franchise ’s core mythology intact — Immortals battling toward the Gathering and the mysterious Prize — while Stahelski has indicated he can pull from the broader Highlander canon.
Behind the camera, frequent Stahelski collaborator Dan Laustsen serves as cinematographer, with a score by Tyler Bates. Backed by Amazon MGM Studios, the film is targeting a 2027 release.