Fast Five helmer Justin Lin has stepped down from directing Summit’s remake of the 1986 film Highlander. Lin first became attached to direct the fantasy action movie in September 2009 after the studio acquired the rights to the film in May 2008. He ultimately decided to leave the project after his schedule became busy, following the success of the fourth sequel in The Fast and the Furious series.
/Film is reporting that besides returning to the hit Universal car action franchise for the sixth installment, Lin is also vying to direct the fifth Terminator film. Since Summit wants to film the Highlander remake sooner rather than later, the director decided to step aside to work on other projects. However, Lin will stay attached to the film as an executive producer.
Summit is looking to hire another director immediately, as Highlander, which was written by Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, is a top priority for the studio. It wants to develop another fantasy tentpole series, as its mega-blockbuster Twilight franchise is set to end next year. In fact Twilight‘s scribe Melissa Rosenberg was wanted by the studio to pen the remake.
The original Highlander, which was released in 1986, starred Christopher Lambert as Scottish swordsman Connor MacLeod, Sean Connery as Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez and Clancy Brown as the Kurgan. The three are immortal beings battling humans, who also hunt each other in an effort to collect more power.
Do you think Lin stepping down from the directorial duties will stall the filming of Highlander? More importantly, who would you like to see replace him in the helmer’s chair?
