Mark this down in the 'not completely impossible, but unlikely to be happening any time soon' file.
Rumours currently circulating are suggesting that Tom Cruise is being courted for the often-discussed Highlander reboot. However the actor would not appear as Connor MacLeod (originally played by Christopher Lambert) but possibly as Ramirez, the man who mentors the young, newly immortal Scot when he's cut down in a Scottish clan war but mysteriously survives, finding he cannot die unless someone takes his head.
Though the casting speculation might seem initially surprising and unlikely - after all, the reboot has been stuck in development hell for some time and the most recent Highlander film 'The Source' was made in Lithuania several years ago (Impact was on set) under a well-utilised but hardly boundary-pushing budget - it's worth remembering Sean Connery was already a screen legend by the time he took on the role of Ramirez, so the idea of having a massive name partnered with a perhaps lesser known actor as 'the lead', is not SO far-fetched. Equally Cruise HAS proven his skill with a sword in projects such as The Last Samurai and is known for a strong work ethic and passion for the projects he selects.
Certainly the entire Highlander concept is one rich with possibilities and story potential and it's obvious the participation of a major A-Lister would give the franchise - the expected reboot would be a reworking of the idea rather than a continuation - a major shot in the arm. However, it's also worth noting that Cruise is currently hard at work on the fourth Mission Impossible sequel (the as-yet-not-formally-titled MI-5 is scheduled for a 2015 release) with provisional plans for a second Jack Reacher film and a possible Top Gun follow-up in the offing... so even if conversations WERE to be had it might be some time before anything was practically set in stone even if a deal was made.
In the meantime, there's always the better-received series than ran for six years and which is still available on DVD...
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