Christopher Lambert may have an extensive list of credits to his name, but to a certain fanbase, he will forever be remembered as Connor MacLeod, the character he portrayed in the 1986 cult classic Highlander (and several of its sequels). However, in the age of remakes and reboots, there can’t be only one.
We’ve heard for a while that Ryan Reynolds is on board to headline the new take on the franchise. That project has recently hit a snag with the loss of director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later). While it’s too early to assume that the project is dead in the water, it does – for now, at least – appear to be in development hell.
Recently, Lambert was asked about his thoughts on that project and whether or not he’d appear. Courtesy of TODAY (via Comic Book Movie), here are his thoughts on Reynolds’ reported involvement:
“First of all, I think he’s a really good actor. On top of it, he’s somebody sensitive. If I was the producer or the director, I would go as far as possible away from the original ‘Highlander’ to try to create a new ‘original’ ‘Highlander.’ I am talking about the script. Because the combination of what ‘Highlander’ was about, plus Queen’s music, was unbelievable. So I don’t think a remake would work … I think a good one would be ‘Man on Fire,’ which was directed by Elie Chouraqui – a French director – and then re-made (in 2004) by Tony Scott. It wasn’t a “remake” of the movie. It was a new ‘Man on Fire.’ And that’s exactly what I would do with ‘Highlander.’ You cannot duplicate something, no matter how big it could be. You cannot duplicate ‘The Killer’ from John Woo; you cannot duplicate ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ by Sergio Leone. You can re-do something, but don’t try and copy.”
Most fans would agree that the Highlander franchise should take the approach of its television spin-off and focus on another member of the MacLeod clan of immortals, rather than simply offer a reproduction of Connor’s story. In this context, of course, it would be easy to include a cameo for Lambert to reprise his role. The actor too revealed if fans should expect him to brandish the sword once more.
“No. Because first of all, it’s too close to me, and I’ve done my ‘Highlander’ bit. I’ve had a great time with it … If they were asking me to do like five minutes in it just as a wink to the audience, I would do it. But they didn’t. I think it would be right that they don’t ask. They have to stay away from the original.”
One can’t argue with Lambert’s decision to let his Highlander legacy rest in peace. However, with Kevin Tancharoen’s Mortal Kombat reboot finally taking shape, one wonders if Lambert would consider donning the white robes and lightning-filled eyes of Lord Rayden once more. That role is also arguably one of his most memorable and would be an easy way for Tancharoen’s film to attract longtime fans who have fond memories of the 1995 film in which Lambert appeared.
Would you like to see Lambert make an appearance in either the Highlander or Mortal Kombat reboots? Let us know in the comments.
Stay tuned to Screen Rant for further details as this story develops.
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Source: TODAY (via Comic Book Movie)
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Agreed Mr. Lambert
good that way hopefully ryan renolds will stay away from the green lantern
oh come on, GL was NOT as bad as people unneccesarily complained about.
How much complaining is necessary when you spend ten bucks on a stinkbomb that could have been awe-inspiringly good? Yeah, it was terrible and I wouldn’t want to let anybody think otherwise if it meant they would keep churning out junk.
[PS Well said Mr Lambert]
Not Ryan Reynolds fault that it wasn’t all it could have been.
Who said it was?
No it was not as bad as people claim it was.
It was a heaping steaming pile of cow poop.
Saying Green Lantern was bad is an understatement.
They should have had Ryan as the Kyle Raynor character instead of Hal Jordan. Jordan is not a clown like as Reynolds played him in the move.
Agreed, too much clowning spoils the franchise
He looks nothing like Kyle, and Kyle isn’t a clown either.
Still, Kyle would have been a better fit than Jordan. but I know what your saying.
If Anything he had more in common with Guy Gardner than either Hal Jordan or Kyle Raynor.
Lol true that man
I agree with Mr. Lambert, there’s no way the original story of the Highlander movies can be duplicated. And I’d sh** bricks if he reprised his role as Raiden. Especially since CHT is going to reprise his role as Shang Tsung in MK Legacy.
Christopher Lambert is an acting God. His massive forehead can’t be stopped by anyone.
Except perhaps Ted Danson!
Come to think of it, I’ve never seen them in the same room at the same time.
Christopher Lambert’s forehead Vs. Bruce Campbell’s chin, now that would be a match worthy of Mortal Kombat!
Funny stuff they could make a good funny movie together. Gunmen/Evildead. Or kickass.
I agree with everything Chris said about Highlander. Seeing him in Mortal Combat would be something that I would rather see.
Ryan Reynolds is a great actor yet to have a great film.
He has appeared in so many bad films which would have killed the careers of most actors except that it is universally acknowledged that he was the saving grace of each of those films.
Well… if it’s cool with Lambert, I guess I’ll see it.
Him being Lord Rayden again would be sweet. I just want to see Scorpion again. He’s such a mean mo fo.
The age of remakes and reboots, there can’t be only one.
http://www.governorswalkresidence.com/
I agree with Lambert to, well said!
Watched Fortress the other day, that’s a classic, watched Fortress 2 a few days later, what a load of crap!
Hear hear!!! Loved fortress, I’m surprised its not being re made
Yeah Fortress is awesome, the 90′s had quite a few decent futuristic prison movies, like No Escape with Ray Liotta and Wedlock with Rutger Hauer
Lockout with Guy Pearce was pretty similar to Fortress 2 – Re Entry, which was in space but the less said about both of those movies the better!
Lockout – which i chose not to see seemed more along the lines of Snake Plissken in space
Ohhh hell ya!!!! I completely agree with lamberts quote, “you can re-do something but you can’t copy it”. And as for lambert taking a role in a reboot of highlander, perhaps for few minutes as he said, but not as a Reoccurring character. And he was definitely the s*** playin raiden. Love to see him portray the god of lightening again.
I completely agree with Christopher Lambert. It shows that he know exactly what he is talking about and is not just concerned about the film being a Top Grossing Box office hit, but instead a good, well writen quality scripted story which the current audience will not only enjoy but be remembered as did the original to so many fans now. I also don’t see why he should be featured in the remake, but a “wink” cameo would be welcomed. Mortal Kombat though I feel should have him and no other as he brings about a Lord Rayden with a level of character dept that I feel even the video games miss – he’s simply portrayed as some Earth Relm protector…and nothing else. Albeit, that is exactly what the games should be doing asthe film character needs to be a character that the audience can relate to and thus enjoy watching. I look forward to watching both film when released.
I completely agree with Christopher Lambert. It shows that he know exactly what he is talking about and is not just concerned about the film being a Top Grossing Box office hit, but instead a good, well writen quality scripted story which the current audience will not only enjoy but be remembered as did the original to so many fans now. I also don’t see why he should be featured in the remake, but a “wink” cameo would be welcomed. Mortal Kombat though I feel should have him and no other as he brings about a Lord Rayden with a level of character dept that I feel even the video games miss – he’s simply portrayed as some Earth Relm protector…and nothing else. Albeit, that is exactly what the games should be doing asthe film character needs to be a character that the audience can relate to and thus enjoy watching. I look forward to watching both films when released.
Mortal Kombat, definitely he should reprise the role of Raiden, but not Highlander. He is supposed to be immortal, and he would not really look young enough to play himself. I agree with him though that Reynolds should play another Macleod.
I agree with Chris on a remake/reboot. I still watch the original all the time. Have the soundtrack in my Jeep. It can’t be touched. I loved the series, and most of the movies.
But, to make a cameo, it would have to be back before the time period of Highlander: Endgame when Connor gives his life to Duncan. Considering the flashback style of the movie and tv series, that would be easy enough to do, however!
I like Ryan Reynolds but let’s face it, he can’t carry a movie by himself. I think a much better choice would be Chris Pine or Chris Hemsworth. They are both better actors and have a fitness that Reynolds cannot match.
Lambert is 100 percent correct. I would like to see him in the new MK movie.
The first, original movie was great. The rest were crap. Let’s hope the reboot is better than the trend.
Lambert speaks the truth, well said
I hate Ryan Reynolds so much that I’d be happier if Burt Reynolds was cast as Highlander.
I think you might have stepped over the line into the twilight zone with that bit of casting. doo doo doo doo
I think Reynolds is an awesome actor too and he’d easily carry a new Highlander movie.
Lambert should return as Raiden but I dunno, despite his casting being cool in the original, he seemed out of place considering Raiden fights just as much as the others and Lambert was given a non-fighting role with a few comedy bits.
I also didn’t like how Scorpion’s spear was turned into a creature with jaws or that Reptile was a horribly created 3D animation rather than an actual person until that one fight scene either but hey….
Now he really IS just being gracious………
Mr. Lambert said it.
And you have to admire an actor like him. One role defines him, and he accepted that. Most roles that would handcuff an actor, they would hate it. No, Mr. Lambert looks at Highlander with pride.
There can be only one.
And lord, why even let Ryan Reynolds try to screw up another movie? Keep him to romantic comedies and quasi action flicks. No Comic Book or Iconic characters!
I totally agree with you, Reynolds can’t do mean and moody he just comes across like he’s taking the piss, he’s a wise ass and should stick to those types of roles
Highlander is one of my favourite movies of all time, leave it be!
A Highlander reboot, a Mortal Kombat reboot… Everything is about remakes these days. Is it just me, or does it really seem like the industry has no new ideas? Hm, wait, it just seems like that, they just have NO ideas at all. What is not a remake, a reboot or a comic-adaption turns out to be plagiarism like Avatar. But it’s in 3D, uh uh…
Okay, there are exceptions, of course. But few.
Anyway, who needs reboots and remakes? I’ve never seen a single remake that comes even close to the original.
“MORTAL KOMBAT” would be cool, but “HIGHLANDER” shouldn’t be remade and especially not with Ryan Reynolds.
Killing Connor by Duncan was the worst idea also with Richie. The writers destroey the story and what Highlander suppose to be. ADRIAN PAUL AND CHRISTOPHER LAMBERT SHOULD HAVE HAD BACK BONE AND STOOD UP FOR THEIR part.
Hell yeah.