We’ve known since 2008 that the Highlander franchise was being rebooted, and we learned last year that the newest tale of the MacLeod clan was being rushed into production. But the big question was – who the hell’s gonna be chopping them heads off? Worry your little hearts no more, lads and lasses, because Ryan Reynolds is immortally yours.
Reynolds will play Conner MacLeod, a Highlander who discovers he is one of a dwindling group of immortals who wander the earth and kill each other in combat for the final “Prize” – immortality.
The remake is set to be helmed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, who is also in negotiations to rewrite the script. Neal Moritz and Peter Davis will produce the film. (Via The Tracking Board)
The star of the poorly-received Green Lantern, Reynolds will reportedly not be returning for that sequel, but he’s still riding the potential comic book film franchises pretty hard with R.I.P.D due out next year and Deadpool still in development. So consider a run with the Highlander franchise as some strong job security.
Reynolds is a polarizing actor, in that women love to look at his dreamy, rippled washboard abs, while fans of Blade, X-Men, and Green Lantern love to criticize the guy for being simply wrong as a comic book hero type. But he’s just so damn charming – and it helps that he sleeps next to Blake Lively – that we keep giving him second chances.
Maybe Highlander will be the franchise that he truly redefines. Or maybe it will be Deadpool. Or The Flash, Silver Surfer, Adam Warlock, Punisher, Longshot, Northstar, Paladin, Daredevil, or any number of other comic book characters that will eventually get a movie or reboot. Either way, handsome people get jobs.