Deleted Highlander Action Sequence With The Kurgan Was Cut Because It Was 'Too Good,' Actor Says

Swordsman Alex King, who starred in a cut fight sequence from the original Highlander movie, has revealed the story behind the deleted action sequence 40 years later. King, now 69 years old, starred as Yung Dol Kim, an immortal who was beheaded by The Kurgan, played by Clancy Brown, in the 1985 film. King filmed the sword fight in London when he was in his late twenties but had no idea at the time that the sequence would be cut from the final film.

He was not credited in the movie nor was he invited to attend screenings. According to King, the fight choreographer, Bob Anderson, warned the film's fight sequence might overshadow the action scenes featuring the lead character, Connor MacLeod. The deleted fight sequence involved King wielding two swords against Brown's single blade and included acrobatic dives, falls, and a final move where he stopped fighting and knelt before The Kurgan.

King's friend and former co-star, Christopher Lambert, played the lead character Connor MacLeod. King's fight scene was deemed "too good" and was ultimately cut from the film. He felt embarrassed and offended when he was cut out of the final product. Despite his frustration, King remains philosophical about the situation. A new Highlander film is currently in the works, starring Henry Cavill as the title character.