Highlander 2: The Quickeningranks among the worst sequels ever made - but its epic failure was corrected by a much better follow-up the very next year.TheHighlandermovie franchiseis one of the strangest in existence, with all four sequels essentially existing in their own continuities. The trouble is that the ending of the original film wrapped up the story, soThe Quickening’ssolution was to brutally retcon the saga’s backstory. It revealed the immortals are actually aliens exiled from the planet Zeist and that Sean Connery’s Ramírez could be resurrected by simply calling his name aloud.
Highlander 2is a murky, boring and borderline incoherent mess, and outside some impressive production design and hammy work by Connery and main villain Michael Ironside, it’s a chore of an experience.Highlander 2sits at a well-earned 0% onRotten Tomatoesand bombed, grossing over $14 million on an estimated $34 million production budget. In defense of the filmmakers, a lot went wrong duringThe Quickening’sproduction - but the truth is, the sequel was always a misguided effort.
10 Things Henry Cavill’s Highlander Reboot Needs To Get Right After Multiple Movie Failures
Henry Cavill’s long-awaited Highlander reboot is finally moving forwards but it needs to take some steps to avoid the franchise’s past mistakes.
What Went Wrong With Highlander 2: The Quickening
To paraphrase a Highlander: “Maybe there should only have been one!”
The firstHighlanderhas a fantastic high-concept idea that loans itself to sequels, but it was produced before franchises were really a thing. The film ends with Christopher Lambert’s Connor MacLeod as the last surviving immortal, having won “The Prize.” Even so, the shock success ofHighlanderled the creative team (including Lambert and director Russell Mulcahy) to reunite forThe Quickening. As recounted in the 2004 making ofHighlander 2: Seduced by Argentina, nobody was particularly happy with the story as written, with Clancy Brown refusing to reprise his role as The Kurgan upon reading the script.
… Highlander 2’s completion bond company seized control, freezing out director Mulcahy and haphazardly assembling the theatrical version.
The production also made what proved to be a fatal mistake by filming in Argentina. On paper, this looked like a great idea since they could mount an epic sci-fi tale for a relatively modest cost. That’s untilArgentina’s economy collapsed during the filming ofHighlander 2, leading to hyperinflation and everything suddenly becoming incredibly expensive.As a result,Highlander 2’scompletion bond company seized control of the production, freezing out director Mulcahy and haphazardly assembling the theatrical version. Mulcahy was said to be so disgusted by their edit, he walked out of the premiere after enduring 15 minutes.
In the years since, Lambert and co-star Michael Ironside have been openly disdainful of the final product too. Mulcahy and the producers later reworked the sequel on two occasions withThe Renegade VersionandThe Special Edition, which deleted references to the immortals being aliens while adding in new footage and improved effects.Neither of the reworked edits makesHighlander 2agoodmovie, but they’re definitely superiorto the disastrous initial version.
Highlander: The Series Was A Far Superior Sequel To The Original Movie
Highlander is a natural fit for episodic storytelling
The Quickeningwas utterly lambasted upon release - even by fans of the first film. Thankfully, 1992 saw the debut ofHighlander: The Series, following Connor’s clansman Duncan (Adrian Paul).Highlander’spilot “The Gathering” also featured a Lambert guest appearance, confirming the links between the show and the series. While the spinoff wasn’t flawless, having to work around a television budget and softening the harder edges of the franchise (AKA no onscreen decapitations), it became a beloved show in itself.
69%
$12.9 million
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$14.2 million
5%
$13.8 million
11%
$12.8 million
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Highlander: The Seriesopened up the lore too, introducing elements like The Watchers- humans who keep an eye on the immortals - and the world’s oldest immortal, Methos (Peter Wingfield). Being a series, the spinoff had the time to explore what it means to be an immortal, including flashbacks to Duncan’s past misadventures. Granted, Paul wasn’t as charismatic a leading man as Lambert, but Duncan was an easy protagonist to route for.
Christopher Lambert and Adrian Paul eventually reunited for 2000’sHighlander: Endgame.
Why Highlander: The Series Has Aged Surprisingly Well
Henry Cavill’s Highlander reboot should take notes
The Seriesended in 1998, though Paul went on to front the movie sequelsHighlander: EndgameandThe Source.The Henry Cavill-frontedHighlanderrebootalso keeps threatening to happen - but has yet to go before cameras. For fans of the movies who missed out the first time,Highlander: The Seriesis still worth seeking out. There is some 1990s cheesiness and questionable acting to sit through, but it’s still an entertaining and creative ride.
… The Series might prove the Highlander concept is just better suited for television.
If anything,The Seriesmight prove theHighlanderconcept is better suited to television. There are simply too many storytelling possibilities to squeeze into a single movie, and the extra runway can be used to flesh out characters and the mythology. The franchise has come a long way since the misfire ofHighlander 2: The Quickening, and if there is one franchise that deserves a glorious redemption, it’s this one.
Highlander II: The Quickening
Cast
Highlander II: The Quickening is a science fiction film directed by Russell Mulcahy, serving as a sequel to the 1986 Highlander. Set in a dystopian future, the film follows Connor MacLeod, played by Christopher Lambert, who must confront an ecological disaster while battling new enemies. Sean Connery reprises his role as Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez, aiding MacLeod in his quest. The narrative explores themes of immortality, power, and environmental destruction.
Highlander
Highlander was a sci-fi action series released in 1992 following Duncan MacLeod, a 400-year-old immortal who navigates centuries of history. Despite his immortality, he engages in battles against other immortals, striving to protect people from danger.
