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Fast & Furious Director To Remake Highlander

Posted on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 by Peter Sciretta

Highlander

Summit Entertainment has announced that Justin Lin will direct a re-imagination (ie reboot) of Highlander. Of course, Summit hopes that this reboot with “spur a new franchise for the studio.”

Lin made his name with the awesome High School-based indie crime drama Better Luck Tomorrow in 2002 (if you haven’t seen it, add it to your netflix queue), but has since turned out mostly generic Hollywood crap like Annapolis, Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Fast & Furious. The good news is that Iron Man screenwriters Art Marcum and Matt Holloway are working on the new take, which will expand on Highlander’s original core mythology of immortals battling amongst us, hunting each other through the ages by tapping its newly minted creative team to take its re-imagination to new heights.

Full press release after the jump.

SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT HARNESSES FILMMAKING TEAM BEHIND FAST & FURIOUS FOR THE STUDIO’S RE-IMAGINATION OF HIGHLANDER
Acclaimed Action Director Justin Lin and Producer Neal H. Moritz Join IRON MAN Screenwriters Marcum and Holloway, Original HIGHLANDER Producer Peter Davis on Board

Los Angeles, CA September 22, 2009 – Summit Entertainment announced today that it has tapped the filmmaking team behind this spring’s hit film FAST & FURIOUS – director Justin Lin and producer Neal H. Moritz – to direct and produce respectively the studio’s re-imagination of the cult film HIGHLANDER. Summit’s HIGHLANDER is being written by IRON MAN screenwriters Art Marcum and Matt Holloway. Peter Davis, long time producer of HIGHLANDER, will also produce the film. Summit acquired the rights to remake the cult classic from Davis - Panzer Productions, Inc. in May of 2008.

Summit’s film will expand on the original HIGHLANDER’s core mythology of immortals battling amongst us, hunting each other through the ages by tapping its newly minted creative team to take its re-imagination to new heights. Plans call for the re-imagination to spur a new franchise for the studio.

“We are privileged to have this amazing opportunity to reinvent one of the great franchises,” said Patrick Wachsberger, co-chairman of Summit Entertainment. “Neal and Justin have proven more than once that they can deliver an entertaining and exciting blockbuster.”

Added Peter Davis of Davis-Panzer Productions, “Justin and Neal are an exciting directing/producing team and I am confident that they will deliver a truly dynamic film while being totally respectful of HIGHLANDER Legend.”

In HIGHLANDER, after centuries of dueling to survive against others like him, Connor MacLeod, an immortal Scottish swordsman must confront the last of his kind, a murderously brutal barbarian, who lusts for the fabled Prize.

Justin Lin most recently directed the hit action film FAST & FURIOUS, the fourth film of the FAST & FURIOUS franchise. He also directed THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT, and BETTER LUCK TOMORROW.

In addition to FAST & FURIOUS, Neal Moritz and his Original Film banner have produced a myriad of action films including the upcoming FLASH GORDON and THE GREEN HORNET as well as I AM LEGEND, 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS, and I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER.

Lin and Moritz are represented by CAA.

About Summit Entertainment, LLC

Summit Entertainment is a worldwide theatrical motion picture development, financing, production and distribution studio. The studio handles all aspects of marketing and distribution for both its own internally developed motion pictures as well as acquired pictures. Summit Entertainment, LLC also represents international sales for both its own slate and third party product. Summit Entertainment, LLC plans to release 10 to 12 films annually.

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  • TheOnlyManWhoCan
    Craaaaaap! You just know it's going to be a shallow, style-over-substance disasterpiece.... actually, come to think of it, what I've written describes the first film perfectly! I'm a massive fan of the first though, so I hope they expand on the mythos without ruining it. As long as the writers/director remember that what makes the film great is that it's about IMMORTALS FIGHTING WITH SWORDS then they'll do fine. There was an awful-sounding script review I read a couple of months ago. Is this the same one they're using for this thing?
  • TheOnlyManWhoCan
    Waitaminute... "spur a new franchise for the studio?" So... the film's going to have a horrendous open-ended non-ending where he doesn't win the Prize?
  • omarswarez
    If its the same writers as Iron Man, I doubt its the same script you are thinking of
  • ScanCase
    I'm torn on this one. The original movie was great when it came out but it hasn't aged well. For years I've been hoping that a reboot would be around the corner but I don't have much faith in this team. Highlander has all ways been one of those franchises that would make more sense to reboot than say Fantastic Four and Hulk because not as many people are invested in Highlander except for a select few. It could be interesting, it could be a disaster. Personally I'm keeping my fingers crossed because I believe there is alot of untapped potential in the franchise that the first movie and some of the first tv series touched on but never explored.
  • Mike
    Thank Christ. I love Highlander but the series took a tremendous leap in quality after the first film (though the TV series was pretty rad). There's no saving the franchise now and the last couple direct-to-DVD movies have been absolutely unwatchable.

    Justin Lin is an alright director. I like Better Luck Tomorrow, I'm excited to see him tackle something else that doesn't involve cars.
  • richmcleod
    Bad news. Bears. Justin Lin has never made anything that has ever remotely worked. As a movie.
  • Better. Luck Tomorrow. Works better than. Your random punctuation.
  • duncanc
    on.ly jus.t
  • Better Luck Tomorrow is one of my favorite films, so I'm always willing to give Justin Lin a chance with new material. I didn't see Fast & Furious yet, but I did watch Tokyo Drift, which I enjoyed for its racing scenes but nothing else.

    Thing is, I think Lin's got a lot of talent but has been biding his time with droll Hollywood fare so he could get a chance to make movies he wants to make. Highlander is definitely worthy of a reboot, so I'll be looking forward to this.
  • Shaydon
    Better luck tomorrow was a GREAT indie film - after that the source material has been questionable, but Lin deserves more credit then he gets.
    I hope the talanted writing team can showcase his potential.
  • omarswarez
    Even if this doesn't turn out that great, it will be 100 times better than any of the Highlander sequels
  • dagreenman18
    This just screams "bad studio film. And without the Queen soundtrack, this is nothing but a stupid attempt to make money off a name, which is what Highlander 2 through 5 (yes 5) were.
  • Get Thomas Jane. He's the spitting image of Christopher Lambert.
  • duncanc
    I don't want a likeness (though i bet that's just what this unispired team go for), they need to 're-imagine'. They need some vulnarability - i'd go for James Mcavoy / Ewan MaGregor / Kevin McKidd.
  • Name
    Oh, HELL no!
  • Not again! Another classic to be made into some third rate piece of s**t. Hollywood will never learn... But I guess it's easier to rehash old script that to pay for the new one, and to get money of the name only, no matter how bad remake turned to be. And for the last 10 years I am yet to see a good remake.
  • omarswarez
    "And for the last 10 years I am yet to see a good remake."

    The Departed?
    Dawn of the Dead?
    Ocean's Eleven?
    The Ring?
    3:10 to Yuma?
  • You are right, there are some good ones, but there are so many bad remakes that I forget about the remakes that actually turned OK (or even better than original, like Departed and Yuma).
  • Omarswarez, good examples there of why this particular remake will be crap:

    The Departed? Marting Scorsese
    Dawn of the Dead? Zack Snyder
    Ocean's Eleven? Steven Sodenberg
    The Ring? Gore Verbinski
    3:10 to Yuma James Mangold

    Highlader? Justin Lin !!!!!?


    See my point?
  • omarswarez
    duncanc,
    I wasn't responding to whether this would be crap or not, just to the statement that there aren't any good remakes.
    As far as Highlander is concerned, remaking and improving on a shit movie is still an improvement.
  • filmkid
    i remember i was talking with my friends just imagine Hollywood do a remake to Highlander. my friends just laughed at me, look what happens now we getting a remake to Highlander.

    is Hollywood remaking every 80's movies for this generation. just imagine this new Highlander remake its going to be Rated PG-13 and Linkin Park or some Nu Metal Group do a cover of "Queen - Princes Of The Universe" Oh God Why?
  • greggorybasore
    Now I have a mental audio loop imagining what Linkin Park would sound like covering that song, which I really dread. Thanks so much.
  • MarkoP
    But there can only be one!
  • evanz
    Dammit!
  • THERE CAN BE ONLY *CRRRRRAAAAAAAAP!!!!*
  • Guest
    LOL
  • rcesm
    This could really go either way. If it's all about teen movie-goers, it'll suck hard. If they actually put some good thought into it and make it for a broader audience, it could be pretty good.
  • jrice73
    I don't know about this. This does have the makings of disaster written all over it. Of course, sequels 2-5 of this film series make we want to stab myself. I hope the new film takes place more in the past then the present and he doesn't win the prize at the end of the first film. Better to build things up if you are going to do a franchise. Just IMHO.
  • rant
    God no! Leave it well alone!

    Seriously, the fact that Highlander ever became a franchise in the first place is what ruined it. The first film concluded the entire story.The was the last immortal and therefore won the prize. Yes, there were some didgy effects and visible wires that no amount of whispy animation over it could hide, but dammit, it was great! Really great film. No, hasnt aged well but neither have a lot of movies. The 2nd one was SO BAD in it's excuse for existing that it almost ruined the first one when he suddenly rememberd he was from another bloody planet- easy thing to forget for hundreds of years! God it was awful and pointless and don't get me started in the 3rd one and the tv series.

    Leave it. It's not getting any better or cooler. Clancy Brown cannot be beaten in casting as a villain. You won't make it better, you won't even come close to being mediocre.
  • Rant
    "Highlander : The Shittening"
  • Haymaker
    Actually I don't mind them attempting a remake. I recently re-watched the original and although it is still very enjoyable, it didn't age well. However, I find it hard picturing anyone but Clancy Brown playing The Kurgan!
  • willywonkanobi
    well, I am not sure that there very many other directors would want to touch this property after all the crappy sequels. Hopefully they do well with it.

    I have often said that Highlander is one of the greatest concepts in hollywood, but also one of the most poorly executed.

    The first one was good for its day, but didn't hold up well at all. All the other sequels are just garbage and completely ignore every other movie before it. TV series was cool at first, but then sort of painted themselves into a corner. I am really hoping that a reboot can turn the franchise around.

    I am giving it the benefit of the doubt.
  • duncanc
    "well, I am not sure that there very many other directors would want to touch this property ..."

    I'd like to have seen Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers, The Descent) have a go. In fact just about anyone other that the team behind 'Tokyo Drift'!
  • Guest
    I liked when Connor MacLeod suddenly announced in Highlander II that he was from another planet.

    Worst retcon ever, I believe. What the fuck could they have been thinking?
  • The High & The Highlander: Tokyo Drift
  • musicsoup
    It's the time shifting, post-medieval, made-for-tv worthy teen drama we've all been waiting for.

    Didn't you know? Highlander is the new Twilight.

    I call this out as being an epic fail.
  • [A]
    If you're reading this, Tom Jane PLEASE don't star in this movie. You're this close to turn into the next Christopher Lambert (at least HUNG is good)
  • I should be Duncan MacLeod! No joke, i would be the perfect cast. Broad build, fit, acting abilities.

    I'll weld my own sword!
    I took a course last winter.
  • Noooooooooo....!

    There i was hoping that having the Iron Man screenwriters meant they were taking this seriously. How wrong i was....

    From the totally mediocre Director of Tokyo Drift!!!!!!
    And the Producer who screwed up I Am Legend with NON-scary CGI zombies!!!!!!

    We're getting yet another shallow, whizz-bang-shite Highlander movie that should go straight to DVD.

    With so much talent out there who would really give this a new energy in terms of narrative, performance and originality of the type, say, Darren Aronovsky might deliver, we get bargain basement.

    These losers won't even understand how integral Queen's music was to the original. Without understanding this they won't be able to drive the story, let alone a franchise and we'll get a load forget-them-soon-as-hear-them rock tracks that leaves the movie as disjointed as the many poor sequels.

    They need a decent, no doubt expensive band to unite the fragments of the sprawling premise. They should go for the likes of Unkle, The Chemical Brothers, or in particular Muse.

    They could even recruit the newly invigorated Axel Rose (who expressed interest in scoring the first Highlander sequel many moons ago).

    Or they could consider using only Queen again - there's plenty from the two albums subsequent to A Kind of Magic: Imagine the remake opening with 'I Want It All'... There's also the epic 'Innuendo' and fast paced tracks 'Headlong' and 'Ride The Wild Wind', and 'The Hitman' which is a perfect Kurgan theme.

    Instead we'll probably get Christina Aguilera and Block Party doing a crappy 'Who Wants To Live Forever' cover :(

    If Summit were going to get any of this right, they wouldn't have hired Justin & Neal (no offense to them, but come on!).

    Well Summit will get what they pay and i won't be watching this crap in any form.

    Missed opportunity Summit.
    You suck!
  • A guy from Texas is misplaced in the highlands of Scotland and finds out that he is an immortal and must battle the "DK", Druid King, with his newly modified sword for ultimate power and the girl. But then he realizes he can't have babies. pew pew!

    No...
  • Emo MacLeod played by Daniel Radcliffe, his "Spanish Peacock" mentor played very campy (read: FABULOUSLY GAY) by Eddie Izzard, and Vin Diesel as a Kurgan-esque psycho killer that has complete disregard for the rules of the game. And, the PRIZE? They get to be the last man standing, continue to be immortal, and eat a dirty water hotdog from a nyc cart without getting sick.
  • uhhuh-uhhuh
    I hate to say this.
    But here it goes,

    The whole idea of using mediocre producers from that flop Tokyo drift is enough to screw the pooch. to add insult to the classic, they're using the writers behind the iron man.

    It seems that it has become a queer, weird ass notion that the producers, screenwriters, studios think they are writing a masterpiece.

    personally I'd rather see it in the dust bins, rather than turn into a remake
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