by When the suite turns to fiasco: return to the nightmare “Highlander II” which, released in 1991, turned out to be a total fiasco. Even the director ended up abandoning the ship …
It sometimes happens that a long -awaited suite of a cult film turns to disaster. This is exactly what happened with Highlander II, a feature film which, in 1991, marked the spirits … but not for the right reasons. Between a sloppy scenario, backstage tensions and chaotic shooting, this sequel has so disappointed that even its director tried, in vain, to withdraw his name from the project.
Disastrous genesis
Even before its dining room, Highlander II seemed to be dedicated to failure. Rewritten many times, the scenario has left perplexed both the artistic team and the actors. Michael Ironside, who interpreted the villain “General Katana”, did not chew his words later.
“” “I hated this script. We hated him all. Me, Sean, Chris, we only did it for the cash. The thing reads as if he had been written by a 13 -year -old boy. But I had never played a barbaric warrior before that and it was one of my first big roles of bad guys. I told myself that if I had to be in this stupid film, as much to have fun and make boxes.»
Interstar
However, he admitted to having taken his role with a certain detachment, almost as a farce: “All these eye rolls, grunts and winks on the screen, it was I who had decided that if I had to be in a shit, like this film, well I was going to be the fucking most memorable thing, and I think I succeeded.»
Chaotic backstage
The shooting, mainly carried out in Argentina, was affected by serious financial problems. So much so that the film's insurance company ended up regaining orders from the project, dismissing the director Russell Mulcahy from any artistic decision. Christophe Lambert saw part of his cachet fly away in bad investments, while Sean Connery was content to appear briefly, time to touch his check.
Faced with this loss of control, Mulcahy even tried to withdraw his name from the credits, a request rejected because he was not affiliated with Directors Guild of America – an administrative detail which prevented him from regaining hands on his work.
Interstar
Nightmare-test projection and late rehabilitation attempt
The first projection of the film was the final stroke of grace. From the first minutes, the public was reluctant, and Mulcahy left the room after a quarter of an hour, visibly unable to attend the sinking. Christophe Lamberttoo, considered leaving before the end.
A few years later, Russell Mulcahy was able to return to the project to offer a revised version: Highlander II – The Renegade version. This “Director’s Cut” version includes new scenes, a redesigned montage and re -recorded dubbing. Although it was better welcomed than the original, it was not enough to erase the memory of the initial disaster.
Often quoted as one of the worst examples of follow -up failed in the history of cinema, Highlander II There remains a case of school: that of a film betrayed by compromises, economic constraints, and chaotic development. A brutal reminder that some works end up in oblivion.
For you (re) make your own opinion on Highlander II, you will have to turn to its DVD editions.
