Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe film Highlander remake in Scotland

Eilean Donan Castle is once again carrying a Hollywood-sized production on its stone walls. Henry Cavill, Karen Gillan and Kevin McKidd were seen filming Amazon MGM’s Highlander remake at the landmark, with local coverage saying about 100 extras were dressed in period costume as cameras rolled.

The project is a reimagining of the 1986 sci-fi fantasy film about an immortal Scottish warrior battling rivals, the same story that originally starred Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery. This new version is being directed by Chad Stahelski, the filmmaker behind John Wick, after several delays, and filming has been split between London and Scotland. The cast also includes Russell Crowe, Djimon Hounsou, Dave Bautista, Marisa Abela, Max Zhang, Jeremy Irons, Siobhán Cullen and Drew McIntyre, underscoring the scale Amazon MGM is putting behind the production.

For Scotland, the immediate value is plain enough to see. Eilean Donan Castle was used in the original Highlander and is back in frame for the remake, giving the production a built-in visual link to the film’s history and a fresh marketing advantage for the Highlands. Glencoe was another reported filming location, and tourists and passers-by said the area was “rammed” as shooting got underway, a reminder that big productions can create both congestion and commerce in equal measure.

Russell Crowe’s off-set appearances added another layer of local attention. He was spotted in Fort William and at The Pit Stop in Kintail, where he posed for photos with fans. That kind of visibility can spill beyond the film crew, drawing attention to nearby businesses and reinforcing Scotland’s appeal as a location for international productions.

The larger question is whether the benefits will last once the set moves on. A production of this scale can bring short-term jobs for extras, catering, transport and support services, while also strengthening Scotland’s branding as a place that can host major screen projects. Whether the remake delivers more than a burst of publicity will depend on how much of that work stays local, how much screen-sector spending follows, and whether the film’s global release turns Eilean Donan, Glencoe and the wider Highlands into a lasting draw. No release date has been announced.