BAFTA Winner Marisa Abela Tapped for Amazon MGM’s ‘Highlander’ Remake

Marisa Abela, known for her role in the British drama Industry, has been cast in Amazon MGM’s remake of the 80s cult classic, Highlander. She joins actors Henry Cavill and Russell Crowe in the film, with Chad Stahelski set to direct. The film, which is rewriting the original plot, will enter production in September. Abela recently won a BAFTA TV award for her performance in Industry.

– Marisa Abela, known for her role in British drama Industry, has been confirmed to star alongside Henry Cavill and Russell Crowe in the remake of the 1980s cult classic Highlander by Amazon MGM.
– The updated script, set to offer a more complex and richly-crafted world with numerous immortals from various parts of the globe, will see Abela in a significant role as an immortal, adept in swordplay and a past lover of MacLeod, the character to be played by Cavill.
– Production for the film, which will be released under Amazon MGM’s United Artists banner, is set to begin in September this year with shooting locations spanning Scotland, England, and Hong Kong.

Star of the British show ‘Industry’, Marisa Abela, has been added to the cast of ‘Highlander’, the reboot of Amazon MGM’s 1980s cult classic. She will star alongside Hollywood heavyweights Henry Cavill and Russell Crowe.

Chad Stahelski, who is known for his special effects work on films such as ‘The Matrix and John Wick’, will direct the new ‘Highlander’ film. The production is under the banner of United Artists, a division of Amazon’s MGM, and is intended for a theater debut.

The initial 1986 release of ‘Highlander’ featured Christopher Lambert, who played the character Connor MacLeod, a Scottish Highlander from the medieval times who realizes that he has immortality. Through the guidance of Ramirez, a swordsman portrayed by the legendary Sean Connery, MacLeod engages in battles against other immortals over centuries and culminates in the contemporary setting. The plot frequently shifted between different eras.

For the reboot, Cavill will play MacLeod, and Crowe will portray Ramirez. A revamped script is currently being drafted by Michael Finch and reportedly contains some changes from the original, introducing a more intricate and profound world filled with more immortals from various global origins.

Marisa Abela will take on a key role comprising a newly introduced character, an immortal who also happens to be a swordplay instructor and an ex-lover of MacLeod.

The producers for this reboot include Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt from United Artists, Neal H. Moritz, and Chad Stahelski’s 87Eleven Entertainment. Additionally, Josh Davis of Davis Panzer Productions and Louise Rosner are part of the production team.

Full rights to the 1986 ‘Highlander’ film have been obtained by United Artists. Besides this, they also have prospects to create a new series based on the original. Before UA took over the project, Lionsgate spent several years working on the development but later passed on it.

The production has been scheduled to commence this September. It is set to be shot in various locations such as Scotland, England, and Hong Kong.

Marisa Abela gained further recognition for her recent win at the BAFTA TV award for her role in the third season of ‘Industry’. She also received notable appreciations for her performance in ‘Black Bag’, Steven Soderbergh’s spy thriller which also stars Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett.