Standing next to Dave Bautista is intimidating under normal circumstances. Doing it while recovering from a leg injury? That, according to Henry Cavill, required what he calls a “nutritional nightmare.”

As production ramps up on the 2026 reboot of Highlander, Cavill has opened up about the extreme dietary measures he endured to maintain his imposing physique. The actor, who plays immortal warrior Connor MacLeod, revealed that a painful calf injury during pre-production in late 2025 limited his ability to train with heavy weights — forcing him to rely on an aggressive liquid-calorie strategy to preserve muscle mass.

The solution? A 4,000-calorie “recovery shake” consumed every three hours.

The “Mud” of Immortality

Cavill describes the mixture as “the worst thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.” Designed by his nutrition team for maximum muscle retention and tissue repair, the sludge-like drink included elk protein, bone broth, kale, raw oats, and other dense whole-food ingredients blended into a thick, earthy paste.

“It tastes like mud,” Cavill admitted in a recent interview, laughing at the memory. “You have to hold your nose and just commit.”

The elk protein and bone broth provided amino acids essential for recovery, while kale and oats delivered slow-burning carbohydrates to sustain long night shoots. On paper, it was a performance-optimized formula. In practice, it was barely swallowable.

“I was gagging between dialogue,” Cavill joked. “I’d finish a scene at Westminster Abbey and then chug this sludge before the next take.”

Cavill vs. Bautista: A Tale of Two Diets

The irony wasn’t lost on the cast and crew. While Cavill fought to keep down his calorie-dense concoction, Bautista — who plays the villainous Kurgan — reportedly stuck to a far more appetizing regimen of grilled chicken, rice, and traditional bodybuilding staples.

“Dave would just sit there eating actual food,” Cavill said. “Meanwhile, I’m fighting a war in my stomach so I don’t shrink before our next sword fight.”

Under the direction of Chad Stahelski — best known for the John Wick franchise — the reboot promises high-speed, technically demanding combat sequences. Stahelski has reportedly pushed Cavill to train like a professional athlete, even with physical setbacks slowing his preparation.

Bigger Than Superman?

Despite the injury and the grueling shake schedule, early set photos suggest Cavill has achieved one of the most dramatic transformations of his career. Insiders claim he added approximately 15 pounds of lean muscle to better match Bautista’s massive frame.

At his peak, Cavill was reportedly consuming close to 5,000 calories daily — with a significant chunk coming from the infamous “mud shakes.”

For fans, the payoff appears worth the discomfort. Cavill looks larger than he did during his tenure as Superman, with a thicker, battle-hardened build befitting an immortal warrior.

As production shifts from London to Scotland for the final phase of filming, Cavill is finally transitioning back to solid food. But the memory of the elk-and-kale sludge lingers.

“It’s funny now,” he said. “But at the time? That shake was scarier than any sword fight.”

If immortality demands sacrifice, Cavill has proven he’s willing to swallow it — even if it tastes like mud.