The Real Reason Henry Cavill Is Making A Highlander Movie?
It was recently announced that Henry Cavill would be taking over the Highlander franchise and the reason is simpler than you'd think
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Henry Cavill looks like he might end up being the king of all the franchises. Just when it seems like he might be moving out of one, bam, there’s another big one waiting around the corner. It could wind up being the story of his career, taking massive franchise role after massive franchise role. And now the latest word is that he’s set to reboot another character in what could be an expansive and elaborate world. Insider Daniel Richtman is letting on why Cavill might have chosen to take this role now and it comes down to something simple. Cavill wanted to show Warner Bros. that he doesn’t need that studio and he’s just fine without them.
It was confirmed late last week that Henry Cavill would be part of a Highlander franchise reboot, starring as a character in that universe with ties to the previous movies and series. But this new character would be all his own, set to distinguish this story from some of the others told in the past. Taking the gig means a number of things for the actor, but first and foremost it signals his dance card is becoming increasingly full. It’s not the first (or second) franchise he’s now all-in on and that has ramifications for his time as Superman going forward.
Richtman’s rumor makes sense that Henry Cavill would want to send this kind of message to Warner Bros and the folks running the DC Extended Universe. Over the last many months there’s been extended waffling from the studio about their future plans for those within the original Justice League. While The Flash is getting a solo movie, Wonder Woman just got her sequel and Aquaman is gearing up for another story, there’s been radio silence on the fate of Cavill as Superman. Some thought Zack Snyder’s Justice League would reinvigorate additional stories for Cavill as Superman, that hasn’t been the case.
In fact, it’s been quite the opposite. Instead of Warner Bros. committing to Henry Cavill long term, they went a completely opposite direction with the character. They signed on JJ Abrams to produce and Ta-Nehisi Coates to pen a script for a movie that would recast the character with a black actor and tell a totally different story. In this sense, they appeared to be completely moving on from Cavill in the red cape and spandex.
So from this perspective, it makes sense that Henry Cavill would simply move on himself and take on the Highlander gig with John Wick director Chad Stahelski at the helm. There is brand recognition for the character, solid background a cool concept, and the ability to really expand this universe moving forward. Why wait for one franchise to drag its heels about your future when another is ready to commit in the here and now?
And this isn’t the only franchise for Henry Cavill either. He’s also about to start his second season of The Witcher on Netflix which was one of the platform’s most popular products. And he recently signed on to do more movies alongside Millie Bobby Brown in Enola Holmes. Cavill played her older brother Sherlock in the first movie which was among Netflix’s most-watched films of the year. In all, Henry Cavil is more than a little busy and if he’s sending the signal that he doesn’t need Warner Bros. then they are likely reading that loud and clear.
