Jeremy Irons Cast as Villain in "Highlander" Remake

Jeremy Irons, a triple crown of acting achiever thanks to Oscar, Emmy and Tony Award wins, is the latest addition to the remake of the 80s cult classic “Highlander".

Irons joins previously announced cast members Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe, Marisa Abela, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, Max Zhang, Drew McIntyre, and Dave Bautista.

The action fantasy, which hails from Amazon MGM’s United Artists banner, is being directed by Chad Stahelski and is slated for a theatrical release.

Production was to have started in late September/early October but was pushed after Cavill sustained an injury during pre-production. Production will now begin in early 2026.

Cavill is playing Connor MacLeod, a Medieval Scottish Highlander who discovers he is an immortal warrior. With the help of a swordsman named Ramirez, to be played by Crowe, the titular Highlander battles other immortals across the centuries, until, as the line in the original 1986 movie exclaimed, “There can be only one.”

Bautista is playing The Kurgen, the movie’s top villain, while Gillan is MacLeod’s Scottish and very mortal wife. Hounsou is an immortal warrior from Africa, while Abela is MacLeod’s modern romantic interest.

In a part that could be juicy, Irons will play the movie’s other antagonist, the leader of a secret order called The Watchers, who are keeping an eye on the immortals and see them as a threat to humanity.

Henry Cavill Injury Pushes 'Highlander' Shoot to 2026

Michael Finch wrote the script for the remake. Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt are producing via United Artists, alongside Neal H. Moritz, Stahelski’s 87Eleven Entertainment, Josh Davis of Davis Panzer Productions and Louise Rosner.

An acting veteran of stage and screens big and small, Irons is known for his range of projects, from historical dramas to action pieces.

He is part of the cast of season four of Apple TV+’s "The Morning Show," earned an Emmy nomination for HBO’s comic book limited series "Watchmen," played butler Alfred Pennyworth in a series of DC movies, including 2023’s "The Flash," and ris eprising his role of a shady former CIA director in Amazon’s "The Beekeeper 2," now in production.