Summit Loses Director of 'Highlander' Reboot

Most of the time when people hear someone mention "Highlander," they immediately think about Adrian Paul and weird guys dressed in modern clothes still playing with swords. For some reason, "Highlander" is remembered more for its string of sequels and television series than it is for the original film they were all based on. That is a real shame. If they actually sat down and watched the first film, fans of sci-fi and fantasy would love it.

It appears Summit Entertainment feels the same way. The company who brought us "The Twilight Saga" is looking to reboot "Highlander." A fresh start for the franchise might be the best thing for it. There are many fans of the original film that feel like all the sequels and the television series have tarnished its good name.

Summit wants to get the ball rolling on "Highlander" quickly, but has recently run into a snag. Its director, Justin Lin, has had to step down from that duty because of other responsibilities like helming "Fast and Furious 6." Lin is now serving as the film's executive producer so that it can keep moving ahead.

The original "Highlander" movies told the story of Connor McLeod, a Scotsman who discovers he cannot die. He is part of a race of immortal knights that can only be killed by being beheaded by one of their own kind. When they do this, they soak up that person's powers and essence. Each movie had McLeod, portrayed by Christopher Lambert, dealing with some enemy trying to kill him off because there can be only one "Highlander."

The thing that made the first "Highlander" so special was the way it took place across many centuries. It was an emotionally charged piece of science fiction fantasy. When McLeod stays with his wife even as she grows old and he stays young, it is touching. It was not just an action movie; it was an epic tale of the positives and the negatives of living forever.

Personally, I never had a problem with any of the "Highlander" films or the television series. I found them all to be entertaining. They steadily began to go downhill in production and acting quality, but they were still trying to hang on to the original concept of the first film.

If the people who hold the keys to the "Highlander" kingdom want to see the franchise live on, they are going to have to relaunch it from scratch. They need to get new actors to portray the characters and start over. There can't be anyone tied to the original series of films and television series that will remind old fans of anything after the first film. Obviously, currently known actors would help usher in a new and younger audience.

The new "Highlander" does have one thing going for it right now. Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, who penned "Iron Man," wrote the script. Now Summit just needs to get a new director and some big-name actors involved.

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