As beloved as it is, the original Highlander from 1986 starring Christopher Lambert was always considered a B-movie at best, with a healthy enough fanbase to guarantee sequels that were each less inspired than the last. With great potential for world-building inherent in its narrative, it seems like a more appropriate choice for a reboot than some of the other franchises being circled lately in Hollywood.
With the recent announcement that Henry Cavill is being considered to play Connor Macleod in the Highlander reboot, fans are comparing the action star's stats against other actors who might be a better choice to play the immortal. After all, There Can Be Only One.
Cavill: He Knows His Way Around A Sword
After dazzling fantasy fans in The Witcher as Geralt of Rivia, a mercenary who travels the countryside slaying demons and monsters for a price, it's clear that Henry Cavill looks good swinging a sword. His extensive training for the role helped ensure that he looked like he'd been using a blade all his life.
While Connor Macleod was somewhat of an underdog in Highlander, no doubt Cavill will make the character seem believably capable of wielding a sword, especially if he gets to participate in the same kitschy training montages like in the original movie with Sean Connery's Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez.
Better Alternative: Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor is one of Scotland's premier leading men, and he's had a resurgence in popularity thanks to his appearances in Birds of Prey as supervillain Black Mask and his Emmy award-winning performance(s) in Fargo.
McGregor is perhaps best known for playing a young, swashbuckling Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy - a character he will soon reprise for the Disney+ series based on Kenobi's years watching over a young Luke Skywalker on Tatooine. McGregor has also participated in some of the most epic lightsaber duels in the franchise, showcasing his ability as a swordsman and action hero.
Cavill: He's Been In Plenty Of Exciting Fights
Cavill has had the opportunity to engage in some explosive cinematic fights lately, squaring off against some of Hollywood's most well-known stars and coming out looking like a winner. In Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Cavill got to fight Tom Cruise; in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, he battled with Ben Affleck, and in Immortals, he fought Mickey Rourke.
When it comes to winning the Prize, there can be only one victor, so the potentiality of engaging in combat, with several other immortal beings is high. Cavill clearly has what it takes to be the winner of the Gathering.
Better Alternative: Gerard Butler
Another one of Scotland's favorite actors, Gerard Butler would do the MacLeod clan proud with his brutal intensity and intense physicality. The star of the Has Fallen franchise has made a reputation as a formidable action star, though he rarely gets to revel in his native accent or heritage.
The man who gave fans the mighty King Leonidas in 300, with its emphasis on Herculean heroes, epic battles between good and evil, and the unseen hand of destiny, has the pedigree to be the next Highlander.
Cavill: He Excels In The Fantasy Genre
It's no easy task making the impossible seem believable, but a good actor can make even the most far-fetched genre movies seem based in reality. Cavill has proven to be such an actor playing Superman in Man of Steel, Theseus in Immortals, and Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher.
Beyond simply looking good in a cape or suit of armor, Cavill brings an earnestness and a thoughtfulness to roles that would otherwise lack all depth, with their substance completely overshadowed by style.
Better Alternative: Tom Hardy
Like Henry Cavill, Tom Hardy is an actor known for his soft-spoken mannerisms and his hulking physical presence, a combination that is both intimidating and alluring. Hardy has starred in plenty of action-fueled movies, including Venom, The Dark Knight Rises, and Mad Max: Fury Road.
Hardy is known for throwing himself into the roles he chooses, putting all of his acting ability into the narrative no matter how ludicrous it may seem. With a reputation for pushing himself hard physically and getting into the physique of the characters he plays, he may be the perfect choice to play a contemplative immortal, who must protect the power he possesses from those who would use it for evil.
He's A Big Fan Of The Franchise
Cavill has said in interviews that he's a big fan of the Highlander franchise, having watched the movies in his youth. This isn't surprising, especially since he's a self-professed science fiction and fantasy fan that seems to appreciate the ethos of what Highlander is all about.
Having an actor in the role of Connor Macleod who reveres the source material, and wants to do the role credit, can only be beneficial to the movie as a whole. He will do his best to make fans happy and take the work seriously.
Better Alternative: James McAvoy
James McAvoy has emerged as an actor who can be convincing in action-adventure genre movies like X-Men, His Dark Materials, and Wanted, as well as serious movies like Rory O'Shea Was Here. He can be incredibly physical or self-contained, able to express a great deal of emotion with a simple look.
Connor Macleod is somewhat of a reluctant hero, sworn to protect the world from the forces of darkness, but unsure if he has what it takes to be a true Highlander. McAvoy could successfully deliver on Macleod's soulful side, while still giving fans what they want as a competent fighter.
He Has Range
While some fans of Cavill's more action-oriented movies and series may only know him as a brooding protagonist without a wide variety of expression, he's demonstrated a considerable emotional depth in other, smaller projects.
In I Capture The Castle, he played a lovesick country boy, and recently, in Enola Holmes, he played the most gentle and unique version of Sherlock Holmes in recent years. Even when he played Superman, he managed to bring great warmth and sincerity to the role of an alien being protecting his adopted home planet of Earth.
Better Alternative: Richard Madden
A genre team player with leading man looks and sensitivity, Richard Madden has starred in everything, from Disney live-action remakes like Cinderella to intimate limited series like Bodyguard. He has also been attached to large franchises like the MCU in The Eternals.
He gained global recognition for playing Robb Stark in Game of Thrones, earning a fantasy pedigree that served him well, especially since his character didn't get maligned in later seasons. Not only does he have the depth, range, and know his way around a sword, but he's also a proud Scotsman.