WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre has been cast in Amazon MGM’s Highlander reboot. According to Deadline, McIntyre will play Angus MacLeod, the brother of Henry Cavill’s Connor MacLeod.
Expanding the Clan MacLeod
The addition of McIntyre, who happens to hail from Scotland and who uses a sword as part of his WWE gimmick, brings a new family element to the story, expanding on Connor’s clan in ways not fully explored in the original 1986 film. Angus MacLeod, described as Connor’s brother, could provide the reboot with more emotional depth as it builds out the Highlander mythology.
In the original 1986 movie, Angus MacLeod is the cousin of Conor MacLeod, who serves as the Clan Chief, played by James Cosmo, and who was killed by Kurgan (so that could mean it’s possible we’ll see Drew McIntyre vs Dave Bautista in the reboot!).
Star-Studded Cast
Henry Cavill leads as Connor MacLeod, joined by Russell Crowe as Ramirez, Dave Bautista (also a former WWE Superstar) as the villainous Kurgan, Marisa Abela in a new lead role as a new immortal, Karen Gillan as Heather, the mortal wife of Connor MacLeod, and Djimon Hounsou and Max Zhang.
With Chad Stahelski directing, the film is expected to blend the epic scale of the original with influences from the popular Adrian Paul TV series.
Cavill’s Injury Delays Production
McIntyre’s casting comes as production on Highlander has been put on hold. Cavill recently confirmed he injured his ankle during training, posting photos on social media. The setback has pushed filming back to early 2026.
This isn’t the first time Cavill has dealt with an on-set injury — back in 2021, he suffered a hamstring injury while filming The Witcher Season 2. Despite the delay, Cavill has emphasized that Highlander remains his main focus, calling it a project he’s “extremely excited about.”
Franchise Legacy
United Artists, under Amazon MGM Studios, holds the full rights to the Highlander franchise.
In addition to the movie reboot, there’s potential for spinoffs, including a possible new TV series.
The original 1986 film, starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery, became a cult hit and inspired multiple sequels and the long-running Adrian Paul series.
No release date has been set for the new film.
