In the upcoming Highlander reboot directed by Chad Stahelski, Dave Bautista is set to play the villainous Kurgan opposite Henry Cavill’s Connor MacLeod. Bautista has revealed the intense pressure he feels stepping into a role originally defined by Clancy Brown in the 1986 classic, as filming is scheduled to begin early next year. The new take promises to honor the original while offering a fresh, elevated action experience.
Dave Bautista Open About Challenges Portraying Kurgan
While Bautista enjoys playing villain roles, he admits the Highlander villain carries added weight due to the legacy of the original Kurgan. In an interview with MovieWeb’s Joe Deckelmeier, he expressed his anxiety over living up to Brown’s iconic performance.
“No pressure at all, right? Man, I am stressed about this, because I am such a fan of the original. Clancy Brown was in his 20s when he was the Kurgan. I’m in my 50s. I hope I can do the world justice.” — Dave Bautista, actor
The actor acknowledges that despite the pressure, his version of Kurgan is not intended as a replica. The character’s portrayal will differ from the original, blending respect with a contemporary edge.
“It’s written very differently. But still with, like, such a huge nod, a lot of respect to the original. Chad Stahelski didn’t want to go against the grain and make it something completely different. He wanted to keep it true to the characters, but elevate a bit, move it into current filmmaking standards, because we’re always kind of raising the bar. The characters need to go with the action in this film, and the action is super hyper elevated. It’s what John Wick did to the gun work on films.” — Dave Bautista, actor
How the New Highlander Will Depart from and Pay Tribute to the Original
Bautista emphasized that this reboot will not merely repeat the 1986 narrative but will introduce new elements while honoring the source material. Changes to Kurgan’s character and the storyline will create a distinct experience for audiences, yet the film will clearly acknowledge the original film’s influence.
“This is different, man. People, they’re not expecting this. It’s different, man. It’s elevated. It’s stylized. But the role is written very differently. There’s also, there’s certain things about the storyline that obviously I can’t share that make him a little different.” — Dave Bautista, actor
He also stressed the filmmakers’ dedication to respecting the legacy of the first Highlander, despite modern updates and fresh narrative directions.
“Again, a lot of nods to the original. We do, we are paying homage. We are paying tribute to the original, not casting that aside at all. But it’s just something new, something different. Storylines completely different, but there’s just nods to the original film that make it really special.” — Dave Bautista, actor
Filming Schedule and Anticipated Release Timeline
Highlander’s production start has been delayed due to Henry Cavill sustaining an injury during physical training for his role as Connor MacLeod. The film will begin shooting in early 2026, with expectations that it will incorporate intense action sequences and an updated take on the characters. Cavill is known for his commitment to rigorous preparation, suggesting the new Highlander will deliver a high level of physicality.
Meanwhile, fans can see Dave Bautista in the upcoming film Trap House, set to premiere in cinemas on November 14, 2025.
Main Cast of the New Highlander Film
The new Highlander will reunite a diverse cast around its core conflict between immortals. Henry Cavill returns as the protagonist Connor MacLeod. Russell Crowe joins the cast as Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez, with Karen Gillan playing Heather. Dave Bautista takes on the role of The Kurgan, the main antagonist.
