Lionsgate and Summit want Tom Cruise to play the mentor to Connor MacLeod in their long-gestating Highlander reboot, reports The Wrap. Consider this one about as likely as Sean Connery reprising the role, however.
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.”
A Highlander insider echoed that skepticism, making it clear that Summit “is not in negotiations with Tom Cruise,” though they didn’t deny that he was the studio’s choice to co-star.
We’re skeptical Tom Cruise would take a supporting role, particularly one that doesn’t involve lots of running and white tiger cubs. So we expect to add Highlander to the storied list of movies Tom Cruise turned down.
Perhaps more importantly, the project has a new director and needs a new MacLeod:
The three-time Oscar nominee is considered a talent magnet who could help secure a major young star to play MacLeod.
In other words, Ryan Reynolds is no longer playing MacLeod. He signed on two years ago when Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later) was set to direct and possibly rewrite the script. Fresnadillo is no longer directing. That unenviable position is being filled by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, the second unit director on Maleficent and Snow White and the Huntsman.
Seriously though, they really want Tom Cruise to play a guy named Juan Ramirez? I’m going to go ahead and make the most obvious joke: Are there any gays in there? Not a single Juan.
I regret nothing.
