Dave Bautista Poised to Play Iconic “Highlander” Villain Opposite Henry Cavill in Amazon MGM’s Remake

Dave Bautista can play the heavy.

The talented actor is well-regarded for not only playing villains, however, although he’s been aces in roles where his brawn has been used to aid his brutish beliefs, specifically in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune and Dune: Part Two. Yet Bautista’s been just as good playing more complicated brawlers, like he did in Villeneuve’s Blade Runner: 2049 and M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin. Yet for Amazon MGM’s upcoming Highlander remake, Bautista will use his considerable physical presence to play the raging immortal barbarian The Kurgen, a warrior who has been slaying other immortals across time and absorbing their essence. In the original film, the great Clancy Brown played the role.

Bautista will be pitted against Henry Cavill’s Medieval Scottish Highlander Connor MacLeod, another immortal warrior who learns about his abilities and has his skills honed by the swordsman Ramirez. In the original film, Christopher Lambert played MacLeod and Sean Connery played Ramirez. In the remake, Cavill is joined by Russell Crowe as Ramirez.

This isn’t Bautista’s first shot at playing The Kurgen—back in 2015, he was circling the role in a version that was to be directed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan for Summit Entertainment. Now, Bautista will be battling Cavill in a film from John Wick veteran Chad Stahelski, based on a script by Michael Finch.

Bautista has worked with Amazon before—he starred in the action comedy My Spy and its sequel, and will be seen in the action comedy The Wrecking Crew with Jason Momoa. He’s also in talks to join Jake Gyllenhaal in Amazon’s Road House sequel.

Highlander is slated to begin filming at the end of September.

Featured image: Caption: DAVE BAUTISTA as “Beast” Rabban Harkonnen in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure “DUNE: PART TWO,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise