EXCLUSIVE: Sources tell us that the Dune franchise actor is closing in on two Amazon MGM Studios movies: Chad Stahelski’s Highlander which UA is also behind, and Road House 2, which Dave Bautista was also circling.
Bautista will star opposite Henry Cavill in Stahelski’s revival of the 1980s classic swordsman movie. We hear he’s playing The Kurgan, a character made famous by Clancy Brown in the original Sean Connery-Christopher Lambert film.
Kurgan was an Immortal who was a contender for The Prize — the power of all the Immortals who ever lived. During his life, Kurgan was a bad dude, killing and raping, and taking the heads of many Immortals. In the original movie, he’s a foe of Lambert’s Connor MacLeod.
Bautista joins Road House 2 opposite Jake Gyllenhaal who is coming back as ex-UFC fighter Dalton from a script by Will Beall (Bad Boys: Ride or Die). Road House 2 is produced by Atlas Entertainment’s Charles Roven and Alex Gartner, Gyllenhaal’s Nine Stories Productions with Josh McLaughlin executive producing. As we first told you, Guy Ritchie is no longer directing, rather Nobody’s lya Naishuller. Road House released last year on Prime Video, pulled in 80M viewers worldwide in its first eight weeks on the service, one of the top Amazon MGM Studios movies ever viewed.
UA’s Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt are producing Highlander alongside Neal H. Moritz and 87Eleven Entertainment, Stahelski’s production banner. UA took full rights to Highlander, which Lionsgate developed, with potential to also develop a new series.
The original Highlander, in 1986, followed the climax of an ancient battle between immortal warriors, unfolding through interwoven past and present-day storylines. The movie gained a cult following and generated a universe of movie sequels and a TV series. Russell Mulcahy helmed the original film, which was produced by Peter S. Davis and William N. Panzer. Patrick Wachsberger is also exec producing.
Bautista made a cameo recently in Paramount’s comedy comeback Naked Gun opposite Liam Neeson. Back in June we told you that Paramount Pictures has acquired rights to The Romantic, a romantic comedy spec from Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont, with Bautista attached to star. The Dune and Guardians of the Galaxy franchise star has Aura Entertainment’s actioner Trap House up next, as well as the Amazon MGM buddy cop action comedy The Wrecking Crew opposite Jason Momoa, both of which are produced by his Dogbone Entertainment Banner. He also starred in the critically acclaimed Gia Coppola directed Pamela Anderson movie The Last Showgirl. Bautista also has the Zellner Brothers’ alien invasion comedy Alpha Gang upcoming.
Bautista is repped by WME and Jackoway Austen Tyerman et al.