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Connor Mycroft

Hong Kong’s once-iconic neon signs and outdoor hawker stalls were brought back to life as hundreds flocked to Central for a glimpse of British actor Henry Cavill, who was in the city filming a new movie.
Cavill, known for his roles as Superman and also Geralt in the television series The Witcher, was filming in the city on Thursday night. It followed an earlier announcement that he would star in the fantasy-action Highlander series, directed by Chad Stahelski of John Wick fame.
Peel Street – a trendy Central nightlife area known for its blend of old and new – was transformed as film crews erected both genuine and replica neon signs, hawker stalls and a temple.
Despite record-breaking heat, Cavill was seen wearing a thick leather jacket during filming.
Dozens of extras, wearing hats and other accessories for New Year celebrations, could also be seen on set. Although the design evoked Hong Kong of decades past, the scene appeared to be set during celebrations for the year 2040.

British actor Henry Cavill was seen filming what is believed to be a new Highlander movie on Peel Street in Central on Thursday night. pic.twitter.com/X6OcpM1jR1
— Connor Mycroft (@connor_mycroft) August 14, 2026

The film is reportedly a reboot of the 1986 film Highlander, which follows an immortal warrior’s centuries-long battle against rivals in duels to the death.
Hundreds gathered in the area throughout the evening as news of Cavill’s filming – and the street’s retro-futuristic transformation – spread on social media.
Film crews tried to stop eager fans from photographing the actor and the set, but to no avail. Others wandered through unused sections of the set to take pictures.
The South China Morning Post observed dozens of people discussing the film set throughout the evening and saying it reminded them of images of Hong Kong from decades ago.
“I wish they would keep them here,” one of the visitors said. “It’s such a vibe.”
The film crew was also spotted at about 8pm on Friday at the Hung Hom promenade near the Hong Kong Coliseum, with dozens of passers-by hoping to catch a glimpse of Cavill.
Some fans brought along professional cameras with large lenses in an attempt to capture the international star from afar, as the shoot took place in a cordoned-off area with police officers also spotted in the vicinity.
The crew was seen filming with pyrotechnics on the jetty while drones flew just above, believed to be catching wide shots for the film.
The SCMP visited Peel Street on Friday as crews were dismantling the film set. One shopkeeper at a dried seafood store said the set had been built two days earlier, but she had not noticed an increase in crowds.
“They built the set, but it did not affect our business. I don’t know any of the actors. We just do business as usual,” she said.
Ashok, a staff member at a pizza restaurant on the street, said the shoot had drawn over 30 per cent more customers than usual.
“It’s very crowded at night, with people and tourists stopping by. It’s quite exciting, and the neon lights they put up feel like old Hong Kong,” he said.
While tens of thousands of neon signs once decorated Hong Kong’s streets, stricter signboard regulations introduced in the 2000s, coupled with the rise of cheaper LED alternatives, have left only a few hundred remaining, according to neon conservation groups.

Outdoor hawker stalls, known as dai pai dong, have also increasingly disappeared from the city’s streets because of strict licensing requirements and changing dining habits.
Film sets reimagining Hong Kong’s past have drawn enthusiastic crowds in recent years, following the breakout success of the 2024 martial arts film Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In.
An exhibition of replica sets from the film is currently at the original site of Kowloon Walled City, where the story is set.
Earlier this year, streets in East Tsim Sha Tsui were also transformed with neon signs and hawker stalls for the film’s sequel, attracting similar crowds of curious fans.
Additional reporting by Kristen Cheung


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Actor Henry Cavill draws crowds as neon-lit set evokes memories of old Hong Kong

Hollywood star Henry Cavill is filming in Central. Photo: Instagram/notbadgalriri__

British actor Henry Cavill on set in Central during filming for the new Highlander movie. Photo: Connor Mycroft

Hong Kong’s disappearing neon signs and outdoor dai pai dong have been recreated in Peel Street for a new movie starring British actor Henry Cavill. Photo: Connor Mycroft

Peel Street is a trendy Central nightlife area known for its blend of old and new . Photo: Connor Mycroft

Although the design evoked Hong Kong of decades past, the scene appeared to be set during celebrations for the year 2040. Photo: Connor Mycroft

Film sets reimagining Hong Kong’s past have drawn enthusiastic crowds in recent years. Photo: Connor Mycroft

Kowloon Walled City action film sequel’s gritty, nostalgic set draws residents

The film set for Twilight of the Warriors: The Final Chapter has been constructed in a previously empty factory space at Yuen Long Innopark. Photo: Sun Yeung

The sprawling and detailed film set for Twilight of the Warriors: The Final Chapter. Photo: Dickson Lee

The “Kowloon Walled City: A Cinematic Journey” exhibition at Kowloon Walled City Park, photographed in May last year. Photo: Nora Tam

The crew of Twilight of the Warriors: The Final Chapter transform Tsim Sha Tsui East into a bustling 1980s-era streetscape with neon signs in May. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Twilight of the Warriors exhibition to sustain heritage tourism in Hong Kong, experts say

The “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” exhibition is set to open at the original site of the Kowloon Walled City this month. Photo: Dickson Lee

Visitors take a walk back in time to the old days of Kowloon Walled City as part of the Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In exhibition. Photo: Dickson Lee

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Fans flock for a glimpse of the British star filming new Highlander movie, as Peel Street set revives the city’s lost neon signs and dai pai dong


Fans flock for a glimpse of the British star filming new Highlander movie, as Peel Street set revives the city’s lost neon signs and dai pai dong.


Actor Henry Cavill draws crowds as neon-lit set evokes memories of old Hong Kong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Fans flock for a glimpse of the British star filming new Highlander movie, as Peel Street set revives the city’s lost neon signs and dai pai dong

Fans flock for a glimpse of the British star filming new Highlander movie, as Peel Street set revives the city’s lost neon signs and dai pai dong