10 Shows To Watch While Waiting For Henry Cavill’s Highlander Reboot

Published Sep 19, 2026, 7:01 AM EDT

Misty Layne started as an actor and sketch comedy writer before deciding to concentrate mainly on writing. Utilizing both her love of television and film and her behind-the-scenes knowledge, she began a website reviewing films in 2013, with a focus on horror and indie media. Eventually, she began writing about all things television and film for other sites as well. Misty shares a home with five cats, a ton of books, and a fairly impressive vinyl collection.
 

Sign in to your ScreenRant account

Highlander was one of those films that came at the perfect time and captured imaginations. The original film spawned several sequels, a handful of television shows, and a novelization. However, a reboot never happened, even though Summit Entertainment announced in 2008 that it was remaking the original movie.

Now, however, the long wait is almost over. Starring Henry Cavill as Connor MacLeod, Amazon MGM's upcoming movie promises everything fans loved about the original, plus serious John Wick energy, as first-look footage for the Highlander reboot revealed at CinemaCon 2026. Since principal photography only began in early 2026, though, it will still be quite a while before the film arrives.

In the meantime, Highlander fans can tide themselves over with other excellent television shows with similar vibes to the original movie, exploring narrative elements like time travel and immortality that made the film such a cult favorite. Not only will catching up with these satisfy the need for some Highlander-esque hijinks, but it'll make the wait for Henry Cavill's Highlander reboot go by that much faster.

Highlander: The Series (1992–1998)

Image via MovieStillsDB

What better show to watch while waiting for the Highlander reboot than Highlander: The Series? (It is the best sequel to the original Highlander film, after all.) Though the series focused on a different character than Connor MacLeod, Christopher Lambert did appear in the first episode as a segue from the films. The protagonist in the show is Duncan MacLeod, an Immortal who has lived for 400 years, but took himself out of the Game by hiding from other Immortals.

Duncan MacLeod's Immortal journey primarily examines his relationships, whether they be with other Immortals or mortals. Throughout the series, he loves and loses people several times, fights numerous others like himself, and learns about the Watchers, a secret society that records the history of the Immortals. Overall, the series shares many themes with the films, but it also reveals more backstory about Duncan and the Immortals in general. While it isn't the same as the Highlander film, Highlander: The Series is the closest someone can get to it while waiting to see Connor MacLeod on the big screen once again.

Forever Knight (1992–1996)

Image via MovieStillsDB

Forever Knight featured Nick Knight, a vampire who was also a detective and was eager to shed his immortality and become human once again. Honestly, in some ways, this show is a bit of a rip-off of Highlander, not only because it features an immortal who wants to become human, but also because the vampires on this show had a warning sense about each other, just as the Immortals do. The show also contains many flashbacks to the main character's previous lifetimes.

However similar the two were, this show stood on its own as a fun urban fantasy show, which followed Nick's struggle to protect innocent people to make up for the sins of his past lives as a killer, while also trying to keep the secrets of the vampire world away from any humans in his life. Unfortunately, Forever Knight's series finale was hated by fans, sparking quite a bit of controversy.

Xena: Warrior Princess (1995–2001)

Sometimes we're simply in the mood for an action-packed melodrama from an earlier decade that's a tad cheesy. Xena: Warrior Princess and Highlander both offer that up in spades. Here, the infamous warrior comes in the form of the haunted heroine, Xena, who hopes to make up for the harm she's caused innocents in the past by helping people now. Xena constantly struggles to fight for the greater good throughout the series, willing to sacrifice everything to be better than the person she previously was.

However, her grand adventures are what most make Xena: Warrior Princess like Highlander. With her trusty sidekick, Gabrielle, at her side, Xena made her way through a fantasy version of Ancient Greece, a sword in hand and her Chakram in the other. In the fight between good and evil, there's no shortage of mortal enemies or battles, after all, and this show delivered all that action in an enjoyable (and occasionally ridiculous) way.

Highlander: The Raven (1998–1999)

Fireworks Entertainment

Highlander: The Raven didn't last long, but it carried on the good-versus-evil themes the rest of the Highlander franchise dealt with. This time, the Immortal was a woman named Amanda, introduced in Highlander: The Series. However, Amanda doesn't start on the side of good; when the show begins, she's a thief. She's also framed for murder, which is how she meets a cop named Nick Wolfe, who soon learns of her immortality.

Amanda's journey is one of redemption, as she spends the series trying to become a better person with Nick's help. She also finds herself facing off against other Immortals and actually battling them, instead of running away as she would have previously. The show offers a different perspective on Immortal life and explores what might make an Immortal something other than good and what could lead them to switch sides. It's an intriguing watch. However, be forewarned: Highlander: The Raven ends not only with a wild twist, but on a cliffhanger.

The Immortal (2000–2001)

Chum Television/ Courtesy: Everett Collection.

Imagine something similar to Highlander, but more martial arts-based, and you'll have The Immortal. This show is a quick watch at only 22 episodes, with a main character similar enough to Connor MacLeod that in the book The American Martial Arts Film, author M. Ray Lott wrote: "The resemblance to Highlander is probably not coincidental." Raphael Cain sees his wife and child murdered in 16th-century Asia by demons, and decides to dedicate his life to pursuing them throughout the centuries with the aid of magic, his squire, and his samurai sword.

The show is mostly set in the 21st century, and while it's a bit silly at times, it's also entertaining. Perhaps The Immortal wasn't the best show around (hence the single season), but it makes an excellent replacement for those missing out on the elements that made Highlander what it was.

Angel (1999–2004)

Image via MovieStillsDB

Angel might not seem similar to Highlander at first glance, but since both feature an ancient immortal European who fights evil beings in modern times, they're more alike than one might think. Angel originated on Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a brooding vampire who became Buffy's first love before getting his own spin-off show. There, Angel is still broody, but this time he works as a private investigator, waging a war against the forces of darkness (often in the form of lawyers).

Another thing the two properties share is flashbacks to the past. Angel's life has gone on so long that his early days as Angelus, or even his memories from when he was still human, are vital to understanding what makes him tick in the modern world. He's seen friends, family, and lovers come and go while he lives on, much like MacLeod, but somehow remains standing. He also has more than enough mortal enemies to keep him occupied throughout the centuries. In the end, Angel's dark, tormented, immortal main character has much in common with Highlander's protagonist.

Vikings (2013–2021)

MovieStillsDB

This historical drama might seem like an unlikely choice for those missing Highlander's supernatural shenanigans, but like Highlander, Vikings explores the warrior ethos while delving into concepts of legacy. Both shows also feature farmers who become so much more as they battle personal demons and mortal enemies. Plus, Vikings has epic fight scenes that should satisfy any Highlander fan.

This show draws on the tales of Ragnar Lodbrok, one of the more notable Norse heroes. Over the course of the series, Lodbrok goes from farmer to Scandinavian king, with later seasons following his sons and their adventures. Dramatic and action-packed, Vikings is a fantastic show for those seeking adventure and battles (and who don't mind a few historical inaccuracies).

Outlander (2014–2026)

When it comes to time-traveling epics involving Highland warriors, Outlander is the next best thing after Highlander. Based on Diana Gabaldon's bestselling book series, the show follows a nurse from 1945 who time-travels to 1743 in Scotland, gets dragged into the Jacobite uprising, and falls in love with a Highland warrior. While Outlander has romance at its heart, it's also about fighting for what one believes is right, packed with adventures across eras.

Additionally, the show features a protagonist who struggles with destiny, much like Connor MacLeod. Jamie Fraser and his family constantly try to defy fate, but destiny always arrives. Plus, with eight seasons, Outlander will keep fans plenty busy until the release of the Highlander reboot.

The Witcher (2019–Present)

For those who can't wait to see Henry Cavill swinging a sword again, The Witcher should satisfy that need. Based on the Polish book series of the same name by Andrzej Sapkowski, the show follows Geralt of Rivia (Cavill in seasons 1–3) as a monster hunter in a fantasy world. Like MacLeod, Geralt is long-lived and hard to kill (though he isn't immortal). While there's no time travel involved, The Witcher timeline is sometimes confusing enough that viewers might feel as if it is.

The show is action-packed, as Geralt not only battles monsters but also gets tangled up with Princess Ciri (thanks to the Law of Surprise), Yennefer the witch, court politics, and more. The show shares a similar vibe with Highlander, not only in its battles and sword fights, but also in how its main character wanders the world for centuries. That makes The Witcher a perfect show to rewatch or catch up on before the Highlander reboot comes out.

Highlander: The Animated Series (1994–1996)

Highlander: The Animated Series was a kids' show, but it often dealt with mature and violent themes. It was also very different from most previous iterations in the Highlander universe, set far in the future in a post-apocalyptic society where all Immortals except one had agreed to quit the Game and instead help humanity by preserving its knowledge. Of course, it isn't long before the one who hasn't taken the oath, Kortan, basically takes over the world and, in the process, kills Connor MacLeod. Connor's death, though, allows a future Immortal to rise and take on the challenge of fighting Kortan.

The show explored mentoring new generations and passing on knowledge rather than hoarding it, as well as the eternal personal struggle between good and evil. Unlike most cartoons, the characters in Highlander: The Animated Series aren't one-note; they're multifaceted, with the potential for good or evil, including Quentin, the Immortal who can take on Kortan. Even though it only had two seasons, it's an interesting addition to the Highlander universe and worth a watch.