Henry Cavill has faced plenty of daunting challenges in his career—from saving the world as Superman to hunting monsters as Geralt of Rivia. But his latest role might be his most intimidating yet: convincing the Scottish that his accent in the upcoming Highlander reboot is the real deal. The original 1986 film is a beloved cult classic, but its notoriously shaky Scottish accents have been a running joke for decades. Fortunately, Cavill has a secret weapon on set: his co-star Karen Gillan, a proud Scot who isn't afraid to call out a dodgy accent.
In an exclusive chat with Collider while promoting her new comedy Let's Have Kids!, Gillan revealed that Cavill's portrayal of Connor MacLeod is spot-on. "I'm pretty judgy when it comes to people doing Scottish accents," she admitted, noting how easy it is for actors to slip into caricature—she even cited Austin Powers' infamous Fat Bastard as a prime example. But Cavill passed her test with flying colors. "When I listened to Henry, I was like, 'This is pretty bang on.'"
Gillan, who plays Heather in the reboot, was especially impressed by Cavill's dedication to authenticity. "He was very vigilant about getting it right," she said, adding that he even corrected Gaelic pronunciation on set. That level of commitment is exactly what fans want to hear, especially after years of cringing at the original's questionable brogues.
But Gillan's praise didn't stop at Cavill's accent. She also had high hopes for the film itself, directed by Chad Stahelski of John Wick fame. "I love the script so much, and I love the original so much," she said. "I was also judging the script harshly, and I read it, and I was like, 'You know what? Actually, there are some improvements here that are going to make it even better.'" With Stahelski's action chops and a script that builds on the original, Gillan believes the reboot is a winning combination.
Beyond the film's creative merits, Gillan was thrilled to shoot a Hollywood blockbuster in her homeland. "I got to shoot a Hollywood blockbuster in my neck of the woods with school friends," she recalled. "I was like, 'This is the life. This is it.'" It's a homecoming that adds a personal touch to the project.
Gillan's latest release, Let's Have Kids!, is a much smaller affair than Highlander, but it's no less meaningful. Directed by Adam Sztykiel, the comedy stars Gillan and Zoë Chao as lifelong best friends who decide to get pregnant at the same time. When only one of them conceives, their friendship is put to the test. The role hit close to home for Gillan, who discovered she was pregnant during production. "I was just fighting my way through the first trimester," she said, adding that the film felt like "prep" for her own journey into motherhood.
Chao, who also became a mom after filming, shared that the two actresses had bonded over their shared desire to start families before the movie even began. "We actually went and got brunch, and we were talking about how we both wanted to start having babies," she recalled. Now, with both of them raising daughters, the experience feels even more special.
Gillan was effusive in her praise for Chao, saying, "All I have to do is just watch and listen to Zoe, and I don't have to worry about my own acting because she's just so brilliant and funny and the most charming person you're ever going to meet in your life." The film also stars Sam Richardson, Max Greenfield, KJ Apa, and Mary Steenburgen.
As for Highlander, fans can expect a visually stunning, action-packed reboot that honors the original while improving on its flaws. With Cavill's dedication to authenticity and Stahelski's directorial prowess, this might just be the definitive version of the immortal warrior's tale.
