With Superman and The Witcher in the rearview and a potential Bond villain in the forecast, Henry Cavill has a handful of projects in various stages of production. Poised for a highly visible 2026, Cavill is set to star in the action-thriller In The Grey in May, reprise his role as Sherlock Holmes in Enola Holmes 3 in July, and voice Ryan Enright in the upcoming video game Squadron 42. Cavill is also currently filming Highlander, a big-budget reboot of the long-running sci-fi action TV series, in which he will portray the iconic series lead, Connor MacLeod.
Also attached to the Disney+ series Nova and romantic drama The Rosie Project, Cavill has more than enough projects to keep him busy for the foreseeable future. However, one upcoming movie skyrockets above them all: a live-action reboot of the mega-popular 1980s cartoon series Voltron. Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, Cavill is set to join a talented cast in his portrayal of King Alfor in the highly anticipated adaptation eyeing a 2026–2027 release. Never mind Highlander, it’s time for Voltron!
A Live-Action ‘Voltron’ Movie Has Been in The Works For Several Decades
A long and winding road, a live-action Voltron movie has been in development by various production companies since 2005. The IP is based on Voltron, Defender of the Universe, a highly popular children’s cartoon that ran from 1984 to 1985. At its core, the story follows Keith Kogane, Lance McClain, Pidge, Hunk Garrett, and Princess Allura, five human pilots who control Black, Red, Green, Yellow, and Blue Robotic Lions. When combined, these form Voltron, a gargantuan robot tasked with defending the universe from evil forces.
Before Thurber joined the project, several studios and production companies were attached, including Animus Films in 2005, New Regency in 2007, Relativity Media in 2008, and DreamWorks in 2011. Despite the desire to capitalize on the popular Michael Bay Transformers live-action movies, Voltron could never get off the ground… until now.
Revived in 2022 by Thurber (Red Notice, Skyscraper), who will write, direct, and produce for Amazon MGM Studios, Voltron has the chance to cash in on 1980s nostalgia. And, if done right, it could also become the next highly entertaining big-budget sci-fi franchise with Henry Cavill’s star power and gravitational pull carrying the fun-filled spectacle.
Who Will Henry Cavill Play in ‘Voltron’?
In January 2025, Thurber assured fans that the upcoming live-action Voltron movie would “stay true to the heart and the spirit of Voltron,” while “introducing an entirely new generation of pilots” (via Deadline). A week later, Feature First revealed exclusive plot details, which state:
“After his mother’s death, a grieving Earth teen (Keith) uncovers a devastating truth: she was a legendary Voltron pilot from Altea, secretly protecting the galaxy. When the tyrant Zarkon breaks free from imprisonment and launches a brutal assault on Altea, the grieving boy is thrust into her legacy—forced to pilot her lion and reunite Team Voltron.”
The details continue:
“But haunted by self-doubt and repeated failures, he struggles to measure up… until he realises her true strength wasn’t in skill or tech, but in courage forged through loss. In order to save Altea—and honor her—he must find that same fire within himself.”
Newcomer Daniel Quinn-Toye will play the young hero, Keith, with Sterling K. Brown playing the villainous Zarkon. Henry Cavill has been cast as King Alfor, the father of the Blue Lion pilot, Princess Allura, and former ruler of planet Altea. After dying in battle with Zarkon, King Alfor was resurrected as a ghostly entity to give Allura spiritual counsel. Peter Cullen, Tim Curry, Sam Vincent, and Keith Ferguson played the character in previous Voltron iterations.
Additionally, Rita Ora has been cast as Witch Haggar, Nathan Jones as Super Soldier, and Roberto Zenca as Galran Emperor. Other cast members include John Harlan Kim, Alba Baptista, Samson Kayo, Laura Gordon, Tim Griffin, and Tharanya Tharan.
Why ‘Voltron’ is More Appealing Than Another ‘Highlander’ Movie
As Voltron fans get excited about Henry Cavill leading a live-action reboot, it’s easy to forget about the actor’s starring role in the upcoming Highlander remake. A low-rent action fantasy series launched in 1986 that has devolved into straight-to-video fare over the decades, the original Highlander spawned five sequels, two TV spin-offs, an animated series, and a web series.
The central story follows Connor MacLeod (Cavill), a Scottish Highland Warrior in the 16th century, bestowed with the power of the Quickening, a mystical force that grants immortality unless beheaded. Tasked with fighting others of his kind for “The Prize” for ultimate supremacy, immortality, and omniscience, MacLeod faces his most formidable foe in The Kurgan, a monstrous immortal played by Dave Bautista.
With John Wick director Chad Stahelski helming Highlander, fans can expect more breathless action on par with both popular film franchises. However, since there have already been six Highlander movies, two TV series, two web series, and nine novels, the novelty of the franchise has worn thin over the past four decades. At what point does a Highlander reboot run its course, overstay its welcome, and become a laughable self-parody with diminishing returns? Honestly, how much more entertaining juice can this franchise squeeze out of the same old story?
Consider the similar-themed (albeit more romantic) Outlander TV series, which ran for eight seasons between 2014 and 2026, and Highlander becomes far less of an anticipated draw than Voltron. Additionally, the world has already seen Cavill play Geralt of Rivia, a supernatural fighter/hunter with magical powers in The Witcher, which makes Highlander more redundant than Voltron.
After all, Cavill was reportedly so keen on playing King Alfor that he outright refused to use stunt doubles for the intense action scenes and insisted on performing them himself to make them as realistic as possible. Refusing heavy CGI, Cavill spent six weeks in a grueling training regimen to operate a “4-ton, multi-axis gyroscopic cockpit simulator designed to replicate the violent aerial rotations of a robotic lion in combat” (via CNews).
With such dedication to adapting a beloved 1980s animated series into a live-action marvel, Voltron flies atop Henry Cavill’s most exhilarating new projects. Although Highlander and Voltron are based on popular IPs, the novelty of the former has faded, while the live-action prospect of the latter injects newfound enthusiasm.
