After substantial efforts to get a Highlander reboot off the ground, it looks as though the studio is rather keen on a big name actor for the fantasy movie… and it’s none other than Tom Cruise.
According to The Wrap, the 52-year-old Hollywood actor has been approached for the much-rumoured Highlander reboot.
“Tom Cruise is the one who Summit Entertainment is courting to play the Sean Connery mentor role in its Highlander reboot,” they explain. Although they also mention that so far, the interest is a little one-sided.
“Cruise has been busy shooting Mission: Impossible 5 and isn’t focused on future projects at the moment. Should Cruise decide to engage with the project, it’s possible that the mentor role could be beefed up to accommodate a star of his magnitude.”
Of course, the original Highlander featured Sean Connery as Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez – a centuries old immortal who helps Connor MacLeod understand his true power and train for the battles to come.
But would Tom Cruise be interested in taking over the role?
“A representative for Cruise told TheWrap that Highlander is ‘is one of many projects that come to him and he discusses,’ adding that Cruise is ‘far from talks’ and that ‘he is offered tons of projects’.”
And sadly, it looks as though Summit Entertainment shares the cynicism, explaining that they’re not currently in talks with Tom Cruise.
Of course, he’s currently very busy filming Mission Impossible 5… and such a tight schedule might make it a little tricky to discuss further projects. But the studio apparently didn’t deny that he’s their number one choice for the role. And I can’t help thinking that he makes a rather interesting choice.
Whether or not Cruise enters discussions for the role is another matter entirely… and even then, it’s entirely possible that he might pass once he has further details of the project. Still, I can’t help thinking he’s an interesting choice. But who’ll play their Connor MacLeod?
For now, we’ll have to wait and see.
Do you think Tom Cruise is right for the role? Who would you like to see as Connor MacLeod? Let us know what you think in the comments below…