Highlander is an American media franchise created by Gregory Widen. The series began with a 1986 fantasy film titled Highlander, starring Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod, the main character and namesake of the series. The franchise includes four theatrical films, one made-for-TV film, two live-action television series, one animated television series, one anime film, original novels, comic books, and licensed merchandise.

Connor MacLeod, the main character, was born in Glenfinnan, Scotland, in the 16th century. He is one of many immortals who gain special powers from an energy called the Quickening. These immortals can only die if they are beheaded. Other immortal characters from the MacLeod clan were introduced over time, including Duncan MacLeod, Quentin MacLeod, and Colin MacLeod, each living in their own timeline.

On television, Highlander: The Series aired for six seasons from 1992 to 1998. The show starred Adrian Paul as Duncan MacLeod, Connor’s relative and another immortal Highlander born later. Recurring characters included the immortal thief Amanda (played by Elizabeth Gracen) and Methos, the oldest immortal (played by Peter Wingfield). Both characters had spin-off series: Highlander: The Raven and The Methos Chronicles, each lasting one season.

Films

The original film Highlander, directed by Russell Mulcahy, was released on March 7, 1986, with the tagline "There Can Be Only One." The film includes flashback scenes showing the early life of Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) of the Clan MacLeod. After dying in battle in 1536 and returning to life healed, Connor is trained by an Egyptian swordsman named Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez (Sean Connery). Connor learns that he and others are rare humans born with the "Quickening," a power that connects them to nature, prevents them from having children, and makes them ageless and unable to die unless beheaded. Immortals can gain strength by absorbing the Quickening of others through combat. Ramírez explains that when only a few immortals remain, they will gather in a final battle called the Gathering, where the last survivor will claim the Prize: the combined power of all immortals, enough to control humanity.

In the film’s present-day story, the Gathering takes place in 1985 in New York City, where MacLeod works as an antique dealer alongside his adopted daughter, Rachel. He must stop The Kurgan (Clancy Brown), a ruthless immortal who once hunted him and killed Ramírez centuries earlier. As the final battle approaches, MacLeod reflects on his life with Rachel and meets Brenda Wyatt (Roxanne Hart), a new love interest.

The film was originally titled Shadow Clan and Princes of the Universe. It was not a financial success at first and received poor reviews, but it later gained a strong cult following and became popular internationally. Many consider it the best film in the series.

The original orchestral score was composed by Michael Kamen. Queen created and performed the soundtrack, released as the album A Kind of Magic, which references a line from the film. Music from the soundtrack was used in Highlander: The Series, and the song "Princes of the Universe" became the show’s theme.

The film earned $12.9 million worldwide, with $5.9 million in the United States and Canada.

Highlander II: The Quickening was initially directed by Russell Mulcahy. Most of the filming took place in Argentina. After Argentina’s economy collapsed, investors took control of the film, removed Mulcahy, and changed the story. Released on November 1, 1991, the film is set in 2024, with flashbacks to the 1990s and a planet called Zeist 500 years earlier. It reimagines Ramírez and MacLeod as alien revolutionaries from Zeist who oppose corrupt rulers and General Katana (Michael Ironside). They are exiled to Earth, where they become immortal and must fight until only one remains. The winner can choose to become mortal or return to Zeist. This story contradicts details from the first film, such as Ramírez’s age, Connor’s childhood in Scotland, and how the two first met. It also does not explain why MacLeod no longer has the power to sense others’ thoughts and dreams, only his mortality from the first film.

In the film’s main story, the ozone layer breaks down by 1994, killing many from solar radiation, including Brenda Wyatt (now Connor’s wife). By 1999, MacLeod helps create an energy shield to protect Earth, but the shield blocks sunlight. By 2024, society is in chaos, and the shield is controlled by The Shield Corporation (TSC), which charges countries for protection. After winning the Prize in 1985, MacLeod became mortal and aged into a frail old man. Katana sends immortal henchmen after him, but MacLeod defeats them, regaining his youth. He teams up with Louise Marcus (Virginia Madsen), a political activist who knows the ozone layer has healed, and Ramírez, whom he brings back to life. Together, they fight Katana and free Earth from the shield.

When Highlander II was released in 1991, it received poor reviews and is often called one of the worst films ever made. Mulcahy later created a "Renegade Version" by editing the film and removing references to Zeist. The Zeist scenes were changed to show an ancient, advanced civilization on Earth. MacLeod and Ramírez were members of this civilization, and the rulers exiled them to different times. The film still shows Ramírez using magic but no longer calls it the Quickening. The winner of the Prize can choose to become mortal or return to their original civilization.

In 2004, a Special Edition was released with updated visual effects and changes to the shield’s color. While some fans preferred the Renegade Version and Special Edition, the film’s overall reception remained mixed.

Highlander III: The Sorcerer (also called Highlander: The Final Dimension) was released in 1994 in the Philippines and the UK and in 1995 in the US. It follows the original film’s story, ignoring the events of Highlander II. After Brenda Wyatt dies in a car crash in 1987, MacLeod lives in Marrakesh with his adopted son, John. In 1994, he is hunted by Kane (Mario Van Peebles), an immortal who missed the original Gathering because he was trapped in a Japanese cave. Kane has absorbed the power of MacLeod’s teacher, Nakano (Mako), and is a master of illusions. MacLeod returns to New York to stop Kane, meets archaeologist Dr. Alex Johnson (Deborah Unger), and defeats Kane in a final battle in New Jersey. He then starts a new life with John and Alex.

The film earned $36.7 million worldwide, with $13.7 million in the US and Canada. Critics called it a rehash of the first film.

Animated film

In 2007, an anime film titled Highlander: The Search for Vengeance was released. The story takes place in the year 2187 and features the immortal character Colin MacLeod. This film does not follow the same story as the live-action movies and television shows. The plot is set in a version of Earth that has been severely damaged by a major disaster. The film suggests that immortals can use their powers to move and fight faster and stronger than normal humans.

Television

In 1992, a television series called Highlander: The Series was created. It aired in syndication from October 3, 1992, to May 16, 1998. The show was based on the 1986 movie but had one major change: immortals still lived after 1985. In the first episode of season 2, the series confirmed that the events of the original movie happened in the TV show’s story. However, Connor’s battle with the Kurgan was not the Gathering, and he did not win the Prize because many other immortals were still alive in 1985. The series introduced the Watchers, a group of humans who observe and record the lives of immortals.

Adrian Paul played Duncan MacLeod, an immortal from the same clan as Connor, born many years later. After Duncan discovered he was immortal, Connor found him and trained him for several years before they went their separate ways. Christopher Lambert returned as Connor MacLeod in the first episode and appeared in other episodes later. The series originally had Alexandra Vandernoot as Duncan’s love interest, Tessa Noël, and Stan Kirsch as his young friend, Richie Ryan. Other regular characters included Philip Akin as Charlie DeSalvo, Jim Byrnes as Joe Dawson, Lisa Howard as Anne Lindsey, Michel Modo as the comedic character Maurice, and Peter Wingfield as the immortal Methos. Roger Daltrey of The Who played Duncan’s immortal friend, Hugh Fitzcairn, and Elizabeth Gracen appeared often as Amanda Darieux, an immortal thief who became a main character in a later spin-off.

The show had many famous guest stars, including Joan Jett, Vanity, Richard Moll, Traci Lords, Sheena Easton, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Nia Peeples, Rae Dawn Chong, Eric McCormack, Sandra Bernhard, Claudia Christian, and Ron Perlman. The series was co-produced by international companies, including Gaumont, RTL Plus (Germany), Rysher Distribution (United States), Reteitalia Productions (Italy), Amuse Video (Japan), and TF1 (France). The show was popular worldwide, but its ratings dropped in the final two seasons, and it ended in 1998 after six years.

In 1994, an animated series called Highlander: The Animated Series was created. It was set in the 27th century on a post-apocalyptic Earth ruled by an immortal named Kortan. The main character was Quentin MacLeod, a young immortal and the last member of the MacLeod

Web series

The Methos Chronicles is an animated television series about the character Methos, who was played by Peter Wingfield in Highlander: The Series. The character is shown as a 5,000-year-old immortal. Wingfield provided the voice for Methos in the animated series, which had one season with eight episodes.

In the early 2000s, a live-action television series focused on Methos and starring Wingfield was being planned, but the project was not made.

Amanda, Joe, and Methos meet for a private meeting before Methos' wedding to talk about life's joys and sad events. This was a short episode that was only made once, written by the show's writer David Abramowitz and directed by Donald Paonessa.

Other media

A number of Highlander novels were released, including a book based on the first movie by Garry Kilworth and a series of books inspired by the television show written by different authors. Warner Books published nine Highlander novels, which are listed below:

• The Element of Fire by Jason Henderson (October 1995)
• Scimitar by Ashley McConnell (February 1996)
• Scotland the Brave by Jennifer Roberson (September 1996)
• Measure of a Man by Nancy Holder (May 1997)
• The Path by Rebecca Neason (August 1997)
• Zealot by Donna Lettow (November 1997)
• Shadow of Obsession by Rebecca Neason (June 1998)
• The Captive Soul by Josepha Sherman (August 1998)
• White Silence by Ginjer Buchanan (March 1999)

A tenth novel titled Barricades was planned for release in July 1999, but the author, Donna Lettow, became ill before finishing the book. By the time she recovered, the books were no longer being published.

In 2000, a book called An Evening at Joe's: Fiction by the Cast and Crew was released. It included short stories written by members of the show’s cast and crew, such as Peter Wingfield, Stan Kirsch, and Jim Byrnes. The book was edited by Gillian Horvath, a writer for the series.

Non-fiction books about the Highlander franchise include:

• Highlander: The Complete Watchers Guide by Maureen Russell (1998)
• The Best of Highlander: The Book by Maureen Russell (1999)
• Fearful Symmetry: The Essential Guide to All Things Highlander by John Mosby (2015) — a guide to the Highlander films and television series, including interviews with people who worked on the projects.
• A Kind of Magic: Making the Original Highlander by Jonathan Melville (2020)

The Highlander comic book series from Dynamite Entertainment continued the story of Connor MacLeod after his battle with the Kurgan in New York. The comics followed the idea from the television show that the battle was not the final one for the Prize, as many immortals still existed. A miniseries called Highlander: Way of the Sword acted as a prequel to the original film, and another miniseries, Highlander Origins: The Kurgan, explained the Kurgan’s past before meeting Connor MacLeod.

In 2015, Emerald Star Comics released a comic called Highlander 3030, written by Lennit Williams and Matt Kelly. The story followed Duncan MacLeod in a distant, bleak future. The comic received support from the official Highlander Facebook account but was poorly received by critics. In an interview, Matt Kelly mentioned problems during production, such as the original artist leaving due to health issues and another artist being forced to draw in a style that was not their own. These issues caused the comic to be a financial failure, and Emerald Star Comics closed shortly after.

In 2017, IDW Publishing released a miniseries called Highlander: The American Dream, which served as a prequel to the first Highlander film.

All five live-action Highlander films had soundtrack albums released, as did the television series Highlander: The Series, which had its music released in two volumes. An album called Highlander: The Original Scores included music from the first three films and was released in 1995. A collection of songs from the series, titled The Best of Highlander: The Series, was released in 2002.

Big Finish Productions temporarily had the license to create original Highlander audio dramas. Most of these dramas used full casts, but some had one actor narrating the story and others narrating specific roles. The first four audio dramas starred Adrian Paul as Duncan MacLeod and were released monthly starting in June 2009. These stories took place after the movie Highlander: Endgame. In one story, Kurgan Rising, both the Kurgan and Connor MacLeod appear to return from the dead.

Big Finish later released a second series of four Highlander audio stories, each focusing on one of the Four Horsemen: Kronos (read by Valentine Pelka), Silas (read by Richard Ridings), Caspian (read by Marcus Testory), and Methos (read by Peter Wingfield).

A video game called Highlander, based on the first movie, was released for home computers in 1986. Players faced characters from the film, each requiring three hits to defeat. The game was not well received.

In 1995, a video game titled Highlander: The Last of the MacLeods, based on Highlander: The Animated Series, was released for the Atari Jaguar CD.

Kalisto Entertainment planned a massive multiplayer online role-playing game set in the Highlander universe. After Kalisto closed, the rights to the game were given to SCi Entertainment in 2004. SCi decided not to release the game, and trailers showed the title would have been Highlander: The Gathering. Plans for Highlander: The Game and a PC version of Highlander: The Last of the MacLeods were also cancelled.

Highlander: The Card Game is a collectible card game made by La Montagnard Inc. It is designed to simulate sword fights between two immortals.