I Felt Like a Fraud.” — Henry Cavill Confesses He Almost Quit ‘Highlander’ During Rehab

The man chosen to play an immortal warrior nearly walked away from the sword.

As production on the long-awaited reboot of Highlander ramps up in London this February 2026, Henry Cavill has revealed that the journey to becoming Connor MacLeod almost ended before cameras even rolled. The reason wasn’t creative differences or studio politics. It was doubt—raw, physical, and deeply personal.

The crisis began in late 2025, when Cavill suffered a significant calf and ankle injury during an intense pre-production sword-training session. The demanding regimen, designed to prepare him for the “balletic brutality” envisioned for the reboot, pushed his body to the limit. The injury forced Amazon MGM Studios to delay filming into early 2026, leaving the 42-year-old star confined to rehab for months.

It was there, lying in bed with ice wrapped around his leg, that Cavill says the psychological spiral began.

“I’m supposed to be immortal,” he reportedly told close confidants, “and I can’t even walk to the bathroom.”

The Weight of an Immortal Legacy

Taking on Highlander means stepping into a legacy. The original film, starring Christopher Lambert, became a cult classic, defining Connor MacLeod as a brooding, ageless warrior locked in centuries-long combat. For Cavill, replacing Lambert was daunting even before the injury.

But immobilized and scrolling through online chatter questioning whether 42 was “too old” to portray a seemingly ageless swordsman, the doubt intensified. The role demands speed, grace, and relentless physicality—qualities Cavill suddenly felt slipping away.

The mental strain became so severe that he reportedly called his agent and floated the unthinkable: recasting the role.

The Call That Changed Everything

What stopped him was a blunt, timely intervention from director Chad Stahelski, best known for redefining action cinema with the John Wick franchise.

Stahelski, a former stuntman with a reputation for practical, punishing realism, reframed the injury not as a weakness—but as an asset.

“Pain looks great on camera,” he reportedly told Cavill.

Connor MacLeod, after all, is not a pristine superhero. He is a man who has survived 500 years of warfare, heartbreak, and brutality. Weariness is not a flaw—it is texture. The physical vulnerability Cavill felt during rehab could deepen the character rather than diminish him.

The perspective shift was enough. Cavill recommitted to the blade.

A Star-Studded Battlefield

The reboot’s scale matches its ambition. Joining Cavill is Russell Crowe as Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez, the mentor originally portrayed by Sean Connery. Dave Bautista steps into the villainous role of The Kurgan, promising a grounded, physically imposing adversary.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Irons leads the secretive Watchers organization, marking a high-profile reunion with Cavill after their time in the DC Extended Universe. Supporting roles include Karen Gillan, Marisa Abela, and Djimon Hounsou.

With a reported budget approaching $165 million, filming across Westminster Abbey and the Scottish Highlands signals that this is no modest revival—it’s a full-scale resurrection.

From Doubt to Dedication

Cavill returned to set on February 9, 2026, visibly battle-worn in early footage—bruised, bloodied, and suspended mid-air in wire-assisted combat sequences. Crew members describe the action as “hyper-elevated,” blending Stahelski’s signature choreography with mythic fantasy.

The irony is not lost on Cavill. The very injury that made him feel like a fraud may ultimately give his immortal warrior the gravitas audiences crave.

“There can be only one,” the franchise’s famous line declares. For a moment, Cavill feared it wouldn’t be him. Now, blade in hand, he appears determined to prove that immortality isn’t about youth—it’s about endurance.