Hollywood Stars Bring Highlander Remake to Scotland
Several prominent Hollywood actors are currently in Scotland filming a remake of the 1980s cult classic Highlander. Their presence has surprised local residents as they have been seen visiting shops and cafés throughout the Highlands.
The original 1986 sci-fi fantasy film, centered on an immortal Scottish warrior engaged in battles with his rivals, starred Christopher Lambert and Sir Sean Connery.
Actors Henry Cavill, known for his role as Superman, and Karen Gillan, famous for s of the Galaxy, have been shooting scenes at Eilean Donan Castle, a location featured in the original film.
Russell Crowe, recognized for Gladiator, was spotted shopping at a supermarket in Fort William and dining at The Pit Stop at Kintail, where he took photographs with fans.
Dave Bautista, another star from s of the Galaxy, visited a café in Drumnadrochit near Loch Ness.
Filming has also been conducted in Glen Coe and on the Isle of Skye.
Local Connections Among the Cast
For some cast members, the filming locations are familiar. Karen Gillan grew up in Inverness, close to the filming sites, before achieving international fame with Doctor Who.
Kevin McKidd, another actor in the new film known for Trainspotting and Grey's Anatomy, was born in Elgin, Moray.
Charity Support During Filming
Murdo MacKinnon, a resident of Kilmuir, credited Karen Gillan with assisting him in raising nearly £10,000 for the Alzheimer's Society during her stay on Skye.
Gillan remained unnoticed by a crowd gathered in Portree Square to welcome Murdo after he completed a demanding 500-mile walk from Fraserburgh.
The Jumanji actor recorded Murdo’s arrival, shared it along with his fundraising page on her Instagram account, which has 7.6 million followers, and personally donated £500.
"Nobody had noticed she was here. She had managed to keep herself completely incognito," said Murdo, a postman in the Scottish Borders.
"She'd gone out of her way to film it, she'd gone out of her way to share it, she'd gone out of her way to donate," he added.
"She didn't have to do any of that...[I'm] just really humbled by the kindness."
Local Impact and Community Engagement
According to Raghnall Robertson, director of the Isle of Skye Candle Company, the presence of Gillan and other A-list actors has created a noticeable "buzz" on the island.
He noted that although films have been shot in the area before, this production appears particularly significant.
Locals have enjoyed spotting celebrities, and staff at the candle company have been attentive for any famous visitors.
"Everyone's keeping their eye out for Superman, I think," he said.
Plans are underway to screen the original Highlander film at the community cinema in Portree, which is operated by the candle company.
Robertson recalled watching the original and recognizing a famous fight scene filmed in the Cuillins.
"We thought it's the 40th anniversary, the new one's being filmed, let's put it on for the community."
Local Business Perspectives
Allan Macdonald, proprietor of The Hungry Gull in Staffin, shared that he grew up watching the original Highlander and knew neighbors who appeared as extras in the film.
"I think one of the best things about it is that they've come back and used a lot of the same locations 40 years later," he said.
"I think that's pretty cool in the age of CGI."
However, he has not yet encountered any stars from the new film in his café.
"We can be quite a busy place especially in the middle of the day," he said.
"I don't know how keen Russell Crowe would be to queue half an hour for a gull burger. We live in hope."
Macdonald expressed cautious optimism about the film’s potential impact on tourism, noting that Skye is already heavily visited.
"It'll be interesting if people see the place in a different light and maybe put Skye on the radar of even younger people," he said.
"But I don't know how much busier Skye can get really."
Other A-List Stars Recently Seen in Scotland
Last year, filming of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey brought several stars to the Highlands and nearby Moray.
Tom Holland and co-star Zendaya visited Inverness during a production break, stopping at an ice cream shop.
Holland and Matt Damon were also spotted in Burghead, Moray, before being transported by boat to nearby Culbin Sands for filming.
Director Nolan was seen visiting a small cinema in Elgin where he viewed F1 The Movie, starring Brad Pitt.
Additionally, Justin Bieber filmed an impromptu music video in a Dundee pub during his visit to Scotland.
Toni Collette surprised fans by attending a special screening of Muriel's Wedding at the Glasgow Film Festival last March, traveling north while filming in London.
Original Highlander Cast and Legacy
French-American actor Christopher Lambert portrayed the immortal Connor MacLeod in the original Highlander film.
The remake’s filming across iconic Scottish locations continues to draw attention and excitement from both locals and visitors.
Meanwhile, Drumnadrochit Hotel's head chef Niko had the opportunity to take a photo with s of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista during filming.
