Ridley Scott inspiration Highlander traces back to an unlikely source: a nearly forgotten historical drama by Ridley Scott called The Duellists. Gregory Widen, a UCLA student and part-time EMT and firefighter, crafted the original Highlander screenplay as a class project in the mid-1980s. Inspired by Scott’s depiction of a lifelong feud between French Army rivals during the Napoleonic Wars, Widen reimagined this concept as an immortal swordsman wandering through centuries of history. This idea formed the foundation of a film that would launch Christopher Lambert and Clancy Brown’s careers and eventually lead to sequels, a TV show, and an upcoming reboot starring Henry Cavill.
Widen’s script depicted a 15th-century Scottish warrior doomed to live forever, burdened by endless battles and the pain of watching loved ones fade away. His UCLA writing instructor admired the story’s unique blend of historical scale and personal tragedy, encouraging Widen to send the screenplay to major film studios. This action set Highlander’s journey from a student project to a cult classic in motion.
How Ridley Scott’s The Duellists Shaped Highlander’s Premise
The core of Highlander’s narrative was not entirely original but rather an adaptation inspired by Ridley Scott’s 1977 film The Duellists. That film followed French cavalry officers Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel as bitter adversaries locked in an unending duel, bound by a strict code of honor amidst the chaos of the Napoleonic Wars. Widen’s approach stretched this rivalry over centuries instead of years, adding the supernatural element of immortality and a stronger emphasis on romance.
“The idea of the story was basically a combination of a riff on The Duelists [sic]–guy wants to finish a duel over years–and a visit I made both to Scotland and the Tower of London armour display, where I thought, ‘What if you owned all this? What if you’d worn it all through history and were giving someone a tour of your life through it?’ That scene is basically in the movie.”
– Gregory Widen, Writer
Widen invented new characters while borrowing the duel’s concept, incorporating elements like sparking swords that echoed Scott’s visuals and spotlighting a secretive “Shadow Clan” of immortals. The Kurgan, Highlander’s villain, was conceptualized as a complex antagonist akin to the Ridley Scott villain seen in The Duellists. However, as the project evolved, changes diluted many of Widen’s initial ideas to appeal to Hollywood’s demands.
Creative Challenges During Hollywood Adaptation
Once Highlander entered production, a team of new writers and director Russell Mulcahy altered the script extensively. Adjustments ranged from minor issues, such as the spelling of protagonist Connor MacLeod’s name, to significant narrative shifts like relocating the movie’s climax from the Jefferson Memorial to a studio in Queens. While some changes improved the script’s flow, Widen expressed frustration over tonal shifts that occasionally turned serious moments comedic.
The transformation of The Kurgan, played by Clancy Brown, epitomized creative disagreements. Brown was unhappy with how his character’s nuance gave way to a caricatured “cackling psychopath,” a shift that contributed to his refusal to participate in subsequent sequels or the television series. Meanwhile, Widen lamented the loss of the deeply developed villain he had envisioned in college. On a contrasting note, Queen’s bombastic soundtrack, featuring Freddie Mercury’s rendition of “New York, New York,” became an unforgettable and defining element of the film.
Reflections on the Franchise’s Legacy and Future Prospects
Director Russell Mulcahy later criticized the sequels, particularly Highlander II: The Quickening, labeling them a “mistake” that strayed from the spirit of the original film. This intense criticism signals the delicate balance when revisiting cult classics. The imminent reboot starring Henry Cavill faces high expectations as producers attempt to renew the franchise without repeating earlier missteps.
Both The Duellists and Highlander remain available on streaming platforms like Prime Video, allowing new audiences to experience the films that inspired and shaped this unique blend of historical drama and fantasy. The connection between Ridley Scott’s early work and Highlander highlights how initial creative influences can evolve into entirely new cinematic legacies under the pressures and compromises of Hollywood.
