Henry Cavill’s Highlander reboot has just landed a new cast member that will turn it into something of a Gladiator reunion. The first Highlander was released in 1986 and quickly became a pop culture staple, spawning multiple sequel films and other media.
After many delays and false starts, it was announced in 2021 that Henry Cavill would play Highlander’s protagonist Connor MacLeod in a reboot of the hit franchise to be helmed by John Wick director Chad Stahelski. Joining them is Russell Crowe, who will take on the mentor role originated by Sean Connery in the 1986 classic.
Now, The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Djimon Hounsou, a character actor known for Shazam!, Guardians of the Galaxy, and more, has also joined the film’s cast. It’s the first time Hounsou and Crowe will appear in the same film since the 2000 Roman epic Gladiator. Honsou will play an immortal warrior hailing from Africa.
What This Reunion Means For Highlander
Gladiator Maximus and Juba holding swords and preparing for a fight in Gladiator.
The reunion of Djimon Hounsou and Russell Crowe on Highlander is more than just an interesting piece of trivia; it’s a testament to the quality of the reboot’s casting. Henry Cavill’s Highlander reboot follows in the footsteps of the original film in that way; the first Highlander featured beloved actors including Connery, Clancy Brown, and Roxanne Heart.
Although Djimon Hounsou’s name isn’t as well-known as Crowe’s, he has appeared in a number of massively successful films and franchises like James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy and A Quiet Place: Day One. Interestingly, with Dave Bautista in Highlander as well, Hounsou will be catching up with a number of former co-stars on the film.
Our Take On Djimon Hounsou’s Highlander Casting
Djimon Hounsou as the Wizard in the DCEU
Djimon Hounsou’s Highlander character has not been revealed beyond the information that he is a warrior from Africa. Based on potential counterpart characters from the first film, though, it’s possible he’s playing an updated take on Sunda Kastagir. Kastagir was played by Hugh Quarshie in Highlander (1986) and was a fellow immortal and friend of Connor MacLeod’s.
In supplemental materials and guides, Sunda Kastagir was said to be from Ethiopia, born in 1715 AD, although he didn’t meet Connor MacLeod until 1776. If that does end up being Hounsou’s casting, it’s unlikely that the actor will actually share any scenes with Russell Crowe.
In the original Highlander, at least, Sunda Kastagir and MacLeod’s mentor did not share scenes together, so Gladiator fans may have to simply imagine Hounsou and Crowe hanging out behind the scenes.
