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While still a screenwriting undergrad at UCLA, Gregory Widen penned and sold what would become the first Highlander (1986) film. The film, though not very successful at the time, gained a cult following and exploded into a multi-platform franchise (film sequels, novels, comics, cartoons, video games, and two television series) that extended through to the late 2000s.

As a franchise, it’s not well-regarded for its continuity. The timeline is hard to follow, and the entries frequently work to discredit important points laid out previously and/or by other entries.

In the original Highlander film, it is explained that immortals have existed among humans for millennia. The film focuses on Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) and his existence from 1518 until modern day. With the help of mentor Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez (Sean Connery), Connor learns of his fellow immortals and their battles. Immortals hunt each other down, only able to kill one another through a process of beheading known as “The Quickening,” in which the victorious immortal absorbs the knowledge and power of his foe. This ritualistic single combat continues until the time of “The Gathering,” when all immortals battle to be the last remaining immortal—a title known as “The Prize,” the nature of which is ultimate knowledge and power. Connor MacLeod eventually takes this prize and becomes the last remaining immortal.

Its sequel, Highlander II: The Quickening (1991), was released five years later. Almost everything about this film is in direct conflict with the original. Unhappy with the theatrical cut, director Russell Mulcahy released his own version, dubbed the “Renegade Version,” after the initial release. In 2004, yet another cut was released with changes including new C.G.I. effects. No matter the version, this film is considered one of the worst films ever made, with the original cut being decidedly the worst.

Shortly after, Highlander: The Series (1992) was created. The series picked up on the events and mythos established in the original Highlander film with one notable exception: Connor MacLeod never won the prize, and plenty of immortals still exist in 1992. Thus, the series builds on the first film, but for the premise of the series to work the film’s ending must be negated. Christopher Lambert was not interested in doing serialized television, so he appears only in the series’ pilot episode as a means of passing the torch to the series lead, fellow clansman Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul). The series continues during the time of The Gathering and follows Duncan as he defeats immortals, living a life of action and romance with his mortal friends. At the beginning of the series, Duncan has been avoiding “The Game” (the ongoing battle of the Immortals) for many years, but since the story is set at the time of The Gathering, he has no choice but to resume the lifestyle of a combative immortal. (In subsequent seasons, the notion of its being the time of The Gathering is largely dropped, and the series instead returns to the time of The Game.)

The series is set during its airing years of 1992-1998 and features frequent period flashbacks to various encounters and experiences over the course of Duncan’s 400-year life.

Following the success of the television series (which lasted for six seasons), the Highlander universe split off into a few directions. In 1998, recurring Highlander: The Series character and love interest Amanda, played by former Miss America Elizabeth Gracen, received her own spin-off entitled Highlander: The Raven, which took place after the events of the first series. Although Amanda was originally a fan favorite, the show bombed and only ran for one season.

A third film, Highlander III: The Sorcerer (1994), is now considered a standalone entry in the franchise timeline, as it contradicts both the original film and the television series. It stars Christopher Lambert again as he hunts an immortal named Kane, played by Mario Van Peebles.

The fourth in the film series, Highlander: Endgame (2000), was created to tie the franchise’s film and television casts together by starring both Christopher Lambert and Adrian Paul. It coincides with some aspects of the previous Highlander film and TV universes but also includes elements which directly conflict with material from Highlander II, which, as noted before, already contradicts the original. The film serves as the chronological end of the Connor MacLeod character.

The fifth film, Highlander: The Source, was a 2007 TV movie starring Adrian Paul and retconning the original film’s tagline of “There can be only one,” with Duncan seemingly earning the prize originally thought to be obtained by Connor back in the original film. This serves as the chronological end of Duncan’s character.

Two animated films were also produced, both set after the events of other Highlander material. They feature characters with the surname MacLeod but are otherwise irrelevant to the main franchise protagonists of Duncan and Connor.

A series of comics also exist that take place between the end of the original Highlander film and the beginning of the first television series. They then go on to include Duncan, putting them within the same timeline of the television series’ first season. Finally, a number of Highlander novels largely center around Duncan and various experiences throughout his 400-year life.