Paula Hammond - Features EditorIt begins with a high-octane wrestling match at Madison Square Garden. As the combatants get up-close and personal, one man in the audience senses something … unnatural. He leaves, heading into the gloom of a labyrinthine car park where, in the dark, an assailant is waiting …
Cue: that unexpected, breathless sword fight, and that unforgettable Queen sound track…
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 40 years since Highlander exploded onto our screens. Even harder to believe that it wasn’t that big of a box office hit at the time.
Yet, no one was able to deny that the whole, messy, fabulous fantasy had its own special kinda magic. So much so that, the franchise has since spawned five films, an anime, and two TV series.
This September, to mark the first film’s anniversary, fans will have the opportunity to delve into Jonathan Melville’s lavish, must-read visual retrospective.
Featuring all new interviews, a wealth of never-before-published concept artwork, and behind-the-scenes photography, The Art & Making of Highlander, is the tribute to the cult-classic film that we’ve all been waiting for.
Beautifully designed, with lush, full-page interior arts, and spot UV gloss on the cover for that just-so shine, The Art & Making of Highlander, is the perfect coffee table accompaniment to a film that’s still as entertaining and as thrilling now as it was in 1986.
Boasting 192 pages of words, images, and photographs, The Art & Making of Highlander is a stunning book that celebrates Highlander, with a suitably fannish mix of knowledge, affection, and joy.
The Henry Cavill reboot will doubtless set fans ablaze again, but before we fall in love with a new Highlander, let’s remember … there can be only one!
Jonathan Melville is the author of Seeking Perfection: The Unofficial Guide to Tremors, A Kind of Magic: Making the Original Highlander and Local Hero: Making a Scottish Classic.
The Art & Making of Highlander (ISBN: 9781835412930) is available from Titan Books from 1st September, RRP £39.99 / $50.00.
