The Kurgan
The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's general notability guideline. (July 2023) |
The Kurgan (Victor Kruger) | |
---|---|
The Bedouin |
The Kurgan is a fictional character from the first Highlander film. He is portrayed by Clancy Brown. He is an Immortal, the main antagonist to Connor MacLeod in Highlander, and the latter's ultimate opponent in the Gathering.
The Kurgan's life story is fleshed out in several Highlander spin-offs in various media.
Highlander
The Kurgan was born in what is now
In 1536, the Kurgan hires himself out to Clan Fraser in their battle with the MacLeod clan, in exchange for allowing him to be the one to kill Connor MacLeod. In the midst of the battle, the Kurgan challenges MacLeod and runs him through with his broadsword. However, Connor's cousins Angus and Dougal beat the Kurgan back, rescuing Connor from beheading. The Kurgan screams: "Another time, MacLeod!" Five years later, another Immortal, Ramírez, seeks out MacLeod as the only hope of defeating the Kurgan. However, the Kurgan discovers this and tracks them down to MacLeod's home. MacLeod is away, but Ramírez and
The Kurgan and Connor MacLeod meet again in 1985, in New York City, where the Gathering is to take place. During this time, the Kurgan uses his status as a New York City criminal skinhead gang leader as a fake background and goes by the alias "Victor Kruger." The last six Immortals are Victor, MacLeod, Sunda Kastagir, Iman Fasil, Osta Vasilek, and Yung Dol Kim. Vasilek is beheaded by the Kurgan in New Jersey before he learns of Fasil's death in Madison Square Garden at the hands of MacLeod. He then defeats both Kim and Connor's friend Kastagir, leaving just him and McLeod. In order to throw Connor's concentration off, the Kurgan kidnaps his then-girlfriend, Brenda Wyatt, and takes her to the Silvercup Studios building.
MacLeod follows them to the site, where he and the Kurgan face each other in combat. MacLeod beheads his foe, his essence passing to the Highlander, winner of "The Prize".
Novelization
The
Circa 410 AD, the Kurgan joined the
Highlander II: The Quickening
In the final shooting draft of the
They sent me, like, the first 10 pages of it, and I said, "What the F... What is this? Give me the rest of the script?" And they said, "Well, we want your commitment before we give you the rest of the script." And they said, "Well, we're just gonna pay you the same." And I said, "Nah, see you later. [Laughs] I'm not gonna do this. First of all, this makes no sense. Second of all, you're not gonna pay me anything. So there's no reason for me to do this at all!" So then Christopher [Lambert] calls me up and says, "Oh, you've got to do this with us! You've got to do this with us!" I said, "Chris, it's horrible. The idea is terrible, what I read was awful..." And he says, "I helped write that." [Laughs] I'm, like, "Well, I guess I'm never gonna be doing any more Highlanders!" He’s a great guy and I love him to death, but it was doomed from the beginning. If I wasn't getting paid... I will do shit for money. But I'm not gonna do shit for no money. I'll do quality for no money. So if it had been any good, maybe. But it was no good from the get-go.[4]
Highlander: The Series
In Highlander: The Series, the Kurgan's death effectively kicked off the beginning of the Gathering. The Kurgan is mentioned in the episode "The Watchers".
After
In the season 6 episode "
In the Watcher Chronicles DVD supplements, it's also mentioned that from 1981 to 1985, the Kurgan was watched by future leader of the Hunters, James Horton.
Highlander: Way of the Sword
In 476 BC, allying himself with the Persians as part of a special fighting unit, Kurgan took part in the
Kurgan would join the naval forces of
After these events, Kurgan would return to his native Russia, pillaging alongside the
During the 1960s during the Cold War, Kurgan entered into an unholy partnership with the government of the Soviet Union to create a genetically engineered army of mortal super-soldiers purportedly loyal to the U.S.S.R., but in fact created to aid Kurgan in his quest for "The Prize" – men possessing greatly slowed metabolism and aging, as well as superior fighting and swordsmanship abilities.[10] Kurgan and these soldiers would confront Connor MacLeod and a group of other fellow Immortals in 1964, with Kurgan himself gravely (yet temporarily) wounded during the battle, allowing Connor and the others to escape with their lives.[11]
These devoted followers of Kurgan would continue to remain active for decades, even following his death in New York City in 1985, seeking to destroy MacLeod for his actions in the first Highlander film. Kurgan's influence would continue to be felt in the world for some time to come – Connor MacLeod received a "
Known Quickenings of The Kurgan
The Kurgan was one of the most powerful Immortals on the planet and killed his opponents like a savage. Here is a list of some of his known quickenings from the original movie, novelization, TV series and comic books.
- The Bedouin, c. 970 B.C. (Highlander novelization, Highlander Origins: Kurgan)
- Unnamed man, 615 B.C. (Highlander Origins: Kurgan)
- Ivan Trotski, A.D. 1472 ("The Watchers")
- The Mongol, 1535 (Highlander novelization, Highlander Origins: Kurgan)
- Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez, 1542 (Highlander)
- Flavio Parrochi, 1663 ("The Watchers")
- Francesco, 1918 (Way of The Sword)
- Osta Vazilek, 1985 (Highlander, The American Dream)
- Yung Dol Kim, 1985 (Highlander deleted scene)
- Sunda Kastagir, 1985 (Highlander)
See also
- Robert Maillet, professional wrestler with the ring name "Kurrgan"
References
- ^ Garry Kilworth, Highlander film novelization (1986), pp. 290-92.
- ^ Highlander film novelization (1986), p. 293.
- ^ Garry Kilworth, Highlander film novelization, pp. 290-91.
- ^ Harris, Will (26 April 2018). "Clancy Brown on his diverse career, from playing baddies in Starship Troopers and Shawshank Redemption to voicing Mr. Krabs". The A.V. Club.
- Highlander: Way of the Swordcomic book series (2008), Dynamite Entertainment, Issue #3, pp. 2-6.
- ^ Gregory Widen, Peter Bellwood, and Larry Ferguson, Highlander movie screenplay (1985); J.T. Krul, Highlander: Way of the Sword comic book series (2008), Dynamite Entertainment, Issue #4, pp. 1-5. Ramirez is shown marrying his Japanese wife Shakiko in ancient Japan, and is called by his Egyptian name of Tak Ne by her father, Masamune, during the flashbacks.
- ^ J.T. Krul, Highlander: Way of the Sword comic book series (2008), Dynamite Entertainment, Issue #1, pp. 1-5.
- ^ Garry Kilworth, Highlander film novelization (1986), p. 291.
- ^ J.T. Krul, Highlander: Way of the Sword comic book series (2008), Dynamite Entertainment, Issue #2, pp. 1-6.
- ^ Brandon Jerwa and Michael Avon Oeming, Highlander comic book series (2006), "The Coldest War," Dynamite Entertainment, Issue #1, pp. 11-12.
- ^ Brandon Jerwa and Michael Avon Oeming, Highlander comic book series, "The Coldest War," (2006-07), Issue #2, pp. 7-14, 19-23; Issue #3, pp. 1-5, 8-17, 21-26; Issue #4, pp. 1-5, 10-13, 15, 19-23, 26. The events surrounding Connor MacLeod and Kurgan's encounter in East Germany in January 1964 are shown in this series.
- ^ Brandon Jerwa, Highlander comic book series, Issue #6, pp. 1-10, 12-19, 21-25; Issue #7, p. 1-6, 19-25; Issue #8, pp. 1-6, 9, 21-26; Issue #9, pp. 1-8, 11-16, 19-26. In February 1987, Connor MacLeod is kidnapped by another fellow Immortal, and is successfully purged of his Dark Quickening during the subsequent ensuing confrontations.
External links
- Highlander at IMDb