After a period of relative quiet, the long-gestating Highlander reboot starring Henry Cavill is making noise again with a significant character reveal. While fans knew director Chad Stahelski's vision wouldn't be a simple retread of the 1986 cult classic, star Siobhán Cullen has now confirmed just how different one key role will be.
Speaking from the film's London set, Cullen confirmed she is playing Brenda, a character originally portrayed by Roxanne Hart. However, she was quick to emphasize this is a fresh interpretation. "Our Brenda is totally different," Cullen told Deadline, while acknowledging she took inspiration from Hart's original performance.
A New Brenda for a New Era
Cullen elaborated on the character's new direction, explaining that audiences will meet Brenda at a different point in her life. "We find her getting into trouble and when she meets Connor on a pivotal night, as a mortal, she gets swept up in the world of immortals," she said. This positioning fundamentally changes her role in the narrative.
In the original film, Brenda was a New York forensics expert whose skepticism drew her into Connor MacLeod's secret world. The reboot flips the script, making her an active participant thrust into chaos. "Because she is mortal in this immortal world, she's kind of the eyes of the audience," Cullen explained. "She is being introduced into this whole new world, which totally upends her whole understanding of humanity and time and what's possible."
Stahelski's Vision: "Definitely One for the Fans"
While keeping plot details close to the vest, Cullen teased that Stahelski's take is "definitely one for the fans" and praised the action sequences she's witnessed as "insane." Given Stahelski's pedigree as the director behind the John Wick franchise, this promises a visually spectacular and physically intense entry into the Highlander mythology.
The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast led by Henry Cavill as the immortal Connor MacLeod. He's joined by Russell Crowe as mentor Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez, Dave Bautista as the villainous Kurgan, and Karen Gillan as Heather MacLeod. The supporting cast includes Djimon Hounsou, Jeremy Irons, Drew McIntyre, and Marisa Abela, among others.
This character shift for Brenda reflects a broader trend in modern reboots, where classic roles are reimagined to serve contemporary narratives and audience expectations. It suggests a more dynamic and integrated role for the character within the immortal conflict, rather than serving primarily as an outsider love interest. For more on how Cavill is transforming another iconic role, check out our exclusive look at the first dark set images revealing a Matrix-inspired hero.
The news comes as other major franchises are also making bold casting moves. Similar to how Jake Johnson confirmed Peter B. Parker's major return in 'Beyond the Spider-Verse', the Highlander team is strategically building excitement through targeted reveals about its refreshed characters.
With production underway in London, anticipation continues to build for what promises to be a ground-up reimagining of the "there can be only one" saga. Cullen's comments confirm that while the film will honor the spirit of the original, it's charting its own course—with Brenda serving as our mortal guide into a world of ageless warriors and timeless conflict.
