Chad Stahelski's Action Empire: Highlander, Ghost of Tsushima, and More

Chad Stahelski has become one of the most trusted architects of modern action cinema. Since John Wick arrived in 2014, studios have wanted him to take control of their action movies, and fans once hoped he would lead Daredevil: Born Again for Disney+. Stahelski declined that idea because he would not have creative control. Even so, audiences will not lack for Stahelski-directed gun-fu, assassin thrillers, samurai epics, or high-concept genre films. As of 2026, he remains attached to a remarkable slate of projects, several of which are huge blockbusters in waiting.

🗡️ Highlander

Like many Stahelski projects, the Highlander remake has been in development for a long time. The remake began development as far back as 2009, and over the years directors and stars such as Justin Lin and Dave Bautista were attached. Now Stahelski is in the director's chair, and he appears dedicated to bringing the remake to the big screen. Henry Cavill is confirmed to play Connor MacLeod, a casting choice that many see as perfect for the Superman actor. Stahelski has said that he and the studio are closer than ever to entering production.

🏯 Ghost of Tsushima

The Ghost of Tsushima video game took the world by storm in 2020. It is rare for a completely original game not tied to an existing franchise to become so successful, and Sony quickly greenlit a movie adaptation. Sony's PlayStation exclusives are generally the gold standard of gaming, but their movie adaptations have not been as well crafted. Uncharted and the animated 2016 Ratchet & Clank movie are examples of a mixed track record. With one of the best action directors working today at the helm, Ghost of Tsushima could become a historical action epic and the first truly great video game movie. Stahelski wants the film to be in Japanese. The project would also let him explore stealth, which is almost the opposite of his typically bombastic action sequences. Tsushima is one of the most visually stunning PS4 games, so the adaptation could be a cinematic masterpiece.

🔫 Shibumi

Stahelski is attached to direct so many huge projects that it is a wonder how they will all get made. Developing, directing, and promoting a movie is generally a two-year commitment, which means his schedule could be full for the next 14 years. That is also worrying for fans hoping for John Wick 5. Shibumi is the latest project added to his list, and it is totally within his wheelhouse. Based on a 1979 novel, Shibumi follows a retired expert assassin who kills his victims with everyday household objects. The premise sounds familiar. John Wick co-director David Leitch has built a successful career from similar material with Atomic Blonde and Bullet Train. 2014 was one of the most influential years for action movies, largely because of John Wick, and when a filmmaker is that great at shooting a very specific kind of action, it makes sense to continue that style.

👹 Sandman Slim

Sandman Slim is a series of fantasy novels. Studio 8, which holds the film rights, tapped Stahelski to direct the first movie. The film has the potential to be the next great gothic paranormal movie, as there has not been one since Constantine. However, it is unlikely to arrive anytime soon. The news that Stahelski was attached came four and a half years ago, and there has been no update since. It is likely that Sandman Slim may remain in development hell. That comes as a surprise because there are 10 novels in the series, meaning there is potential for a huge Harry Potter-like franchise.

🕵️ John Rain

John Rain is a series of novels about a globe-trotting assassin. The original John Wick duo, Stahelski and Leitch, planned to direct a 10-episode TV series based on the novels. Unfortunately, Rain has been in development without updates for even longer than Sandman Slim. Stahelski and Leitch discussed their plans for the project eight years ago. They spoke about it just after the release of John Wick, but it could be that they did not know how successful the 2014 movie would become and had not planned a sequel. Interestingly, the series was also set to star Keanu Reeves, so it is likely the project was put on hold after John Wick's phenomenal success. The film has still not been confirmed as canceled.

😈 Kill or Be Killed

John Wick is one of the best movies about assassins, and Stahelski knows it. All of his projects outside the four-movie franchise are based on assassins too, and Kill or Be Killed is no different. The project is based on the comic book of the same name and has a unique concept. The story follows a young man whose life is saved by a demon, but the demon only allows him to live an extra month for every person he kills. It has a dark premise, and it could be the perfect replacement for Sandman Slim because it is just as gothic and exciting. Once again, there has been no update in over four years, but it still has not been officially canceled.

🏛️ Classified

According to Deadline, Stahelski signed on to direct Classified, a movie pitched as Die Hard meets Indiana Jones. The movie sounds like the great Indiana Jones movie that never was. It takes place in a secret government bunker full of relics with supernatural powers. That bunker sounds like where the Ark of the Covenant was stored at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Though it is unlikely, because Classified and the Indy franchise belong to two different studios, Classified sounds like a great Indiana Jones spin-off and a possible direction for the franchise. It would be a struggle to replace Harrison Ford as the iconic archeologist.

📅 The Bigger Picture

Stahelski's slate is a mix of adaptations, remakes, comic book stories, and original assassin tales. The common thread is precise, inventive action. In a Hollywood landscape dominated by franchises, he has become a brand unto himself. A table of his attached projects shows how varied the material is, yet how consistent the appeal remains.

Whether these films arrive soon or remain in development, Stahelski's name guarantees interest. For fans of John Wick, Highlander, Ghost of Tsushima, and assassin fiction, the next decade of action cinema may bear his fingerprints. The director has not abandoned the genre that made him; he is expanding it. In 2026, that expansion remains one of the most exciting stories in Hollywood action.