Henry Cavill’s The Highlander reboot casts this Doctor Who alum in latest casting update

It is official. Karen Gillan, the actress who played Amy Pond in Doctor Who, has joined the cast of the upcoming Highlander reboot. The announcement came through The Hollywood Reporter and was repeated across the trades. A well-known face from British television is now part of a fantasy film that first appeared almost forty years ago.

The connection stands out because Doctor Who is about time and survival across centuries, while Highlander focuses on immortals battling through history. Different stories, but the overlap feels natural. Gillan’s career has crossed several universes, and now she enters another with a devoted fan base.

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Heather returns in the new version

Gillan will play Heather, the mortal wife of Connor MacLeod. In the 1986 film, Heather was at the center of the human side of MacLeod’s journey. She was not immortal, and that difference defined much of the tension in the relationship. Reports confirm Gillan is stepping into that same role.

Heather’s importance lies in the contrast. MacLeod continues through centuries, carrying battles and survival, while Heather lives a finite life. That difference was in the original and returns now with Gillan.

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A reminder of 1986

The first Highlander hit theaters in 1986. Russell Mulcahy directed it. Christopher Lambert took on Connor MacLeod. Sean Connery played Ramirez, the mentor. Clancy Brown appeared as Kurgan, the villain whom people still mention.

The movie had sword fights, yes, but also a mood, something slightly out of place for its decade. Some thought it was messy, others fresh. Over time, that mix gave it cult status. The phrase “there can be only one” became more than a line. It attached itself to the film and the franchise.

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Who is directing and writing

The new film is directed by Chad Stahelski, known for the John Wick series. The script is written by Michael Finch. Producers include Scott Stuber, Nick Nesbitt, Neal H. Moritz, Stahelski through 87Eleven Entertainment, Josh Davis of Davis Panzer Productions, and Louise Rosner. The project comes under Amazon MGM’s United Artists banner, signaling a theatrical release.

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Cast members already confirmed

Henry Cavill is playing Connor MacLeod. Russell Crowe will appear as Ramirez. Dave Bautista has been confirmed as Kurgan. Marisa Abela is also in the cast, though her role has not been described. And now Karen Gillan, a former Doctor Who star, is confirmed as Heather.

This mix gives the project momentum. Cavill comes from The Witcher and Man of Steel. Crowe adds long experience in historical and dramatic films. Bautista has grown into both action and science fiction. Abela is known for Industry. Gillan brings the Doctor Who link and her work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Nebula.

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Filming and release plans

Filming is scheduled to begin at the end of September 2025. That date has been reported consistently and gives the production a clear starting point. The release is confirmed for theaters, not streaming. No official premiere date has been given.

Trade outlets note that with production starting in late 2025 and the time required for post-production, a release is expected around 2027 or 2028. This remains a press estimate, not confirmed by Amazon MGM.

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Why this Doctor Who update matters

Gillan’s inclusion finalizes the central roles. Cavill, Crowe, Bautista, Abela, and Gillan now form the known ensemble. It shows who the audience will be following and how the story is anchored.

Her career connects the reboot with other major franchises. She is tied to Doctor Who, one of the longest-running shows in television history. She is tied to Marvel through Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers. She is tied to Sony’s Jumanji films, with two installments released. Adding Highlander places her in another large-scale property.

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Looking ahead

The Highlander reboot is finally shifting from long development into actual production. The cast is set, the director is in place, and the script has been finished. Pieces that had been talked about for years are now lined up. Filming is marked for 2025, then comes the long stretch of post-production, and only after that a theatrical release.

Bringing in a Doctor Who name like Karen Gillan connects this film to decades of television and cinema. It is not just another role, it works like a thread, pulling together older stories and this new revival of Highlander. With Gillan next to Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe, Dave Bautista, and Marisa Abela, the ensemble looks defined. The release is still far away, the wait not short at all, but each confirmed detail makes the return of Highlander on the big screen feel more certain.