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Highlander 2: A Sequel Forged in Chaos
14 Jun
Summary
- Filming in Buenos Aires faced extreme tension post-Falklands War.
- Insurance dynamited the script, leading to a nonsensical ending.
- Highlander 2 cost $34 million but only grossed $15.5 million.
In the summer of 1990, the production of Highlander II: The Quickening in Buenos Aires was overshadowed by lingering tensions from the Falklands War. Special effects designer John Richardson recalled the unease of working in Argentina with a British passport.
The film's troubled journey included intense animosity between British and Argentine crews and the country's economic instability. Ultimately, the insurance company took control due to budget overruns, dynamiting the script and forcing a nonsensical conclusion.
Despite reuniting stars Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery, Highlander II was a critical and commercial disaster. Originally conceived as a single story, the sequel's lore was altered to include immortal refugees from the planet Zeist.
The production faced further challenges, including Sean Connery's demands for a $3 million fee and a private helicopter, adding to the escalating costs. The film cost $34 million but only grossed $15.5 million worldwide.
Director Russell Mulcahy later admitted the film was a mistake, noting the original Highlander concluded its story definitively and was not intended for a franchise. Highlander II is now widely regarded as one of the worst sequels ever made.
