Cineverse has extended its existing deal with Davis Panzer Productions, securing digital rights to nine titles including the original Highlander movie.
Starring Sean Connery and Christopher Lambert, the 1986 action-adventure fantasy film grossed just $5.9 million but became a popular title in home video and pay-TV windows, spawning multiple sequels. Its tagline, “There can be only one!” became a piece of pop-culture lore. A Highlander TV series ran for six seasons in the 1990s and also yielded a spinoff series.
The multi-year, multi-territory agreement gives Cineverse streaming rights for its namesake service and Midnight Pulp as well as distribution via other digital platforms and streaming outlets. A reboot of the feature film and franchise is currently in development at Lionsgate. Chad Stahelski of John Wick fame is set to direct and Man of Steel–The Witcher star Henry Cavill will play the lead role of Connor MacLeod.
Cineverse, formerly known as Cinedigm, operates a number of fan- and genre-oriented services across free and subscription streaming, among them Screambox and Fandor, as well as a top podcast network. The company scored a huge theatrical hit last fall with Terrifier 3 and it is prepping for the Labor Day weekend release of a new version of The Toxic Avenger starring Peter Dinklage.
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The Cineverse catalog now includes the original Highlander film, all six seasons of Highlander: The Series, and spin-off Highlander: The Raven. It also has a selection of other films produced by Davis-Panzer, among them Cat Chaser, O’Hara’s Wife, The Osterman Weekend, St. Helens, and Steel.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Davis-Panzer Productions and re-imagine new ways to deliver such a valuable IP to its fans,” said Cineverse Chief Content Officer Yolanda Macias. “On the dawn of the highly anticipated new Highlander feature film currently in the works, the popular franchise will now be able to reach new streaming audiences.”
Priscilla Panzer and Katia Vitale Davis, the owners and executives in charge of Davis Panzer Productions noted the approach of the original film’s 40th anniversary as well as the forthcoming reboot. “This collaboration allows our beloved stories to reach devoted fans and new generations while honoring the memory of Peter Davis and Bill Panzer, whose visionary work continues to inspire and shape the future of our company,” they said in a joint statement.
The post There Can Be Only One: Cineverse Grabs Digital Rights To ‘Highlander’ And Other Davis-Panzer Productions Titles appeared first on Deadline.
