Ryan Reynolds drops out of Highlander reboot

Summit’s Highlander reboot has suffered another major blow with the announcement that leading man Ryan Reynolds has dropped out of the project.

The Wrap reports that Reynolds will no longer be starring as Connor MacLeod, the immortal Scottish swordsman played by Christopher Lambert in the original film, leaving the production very much back at square one.

Reynolds’ departure follows the earlier exit of Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, with the director citing creative differences with the studio after having worked on the project for over a year.

Producers Neal H. Moritz and Peter Davis will now have to decide whether to try and find a director and leading man to fit into their existing plans, or to start over with a whole new creative vision.

The project has been lingering in limbo for years now, with Justin Lin attached direct as far back as 2009. Just how critical this latest setback will prove remains to be seen…