Rose Leslie to star alongside Hollywood legend Russell Crowe as Roman legion attacks Druids in 'Caledonian mountains'

By JOHN PAUL BRESLIN, WEEKEND NEWS EDITOR - SCOTLAND Published: 19:21, 23 May 2026 | Updated: 19:23, 23 May 2026 She rose to fame playing a fierce warrior who lived in a vast, untamed expanse of wilderness. So, Scots actress Rose Leslie should feel right at home in her latest project after it was announced she and Gladiator star Russell Crowe will feature in a movie set in the ‘Caledonian mountains’. The pair are part of the cast for upcoming film The Last Druid, which tells the story of a peaceful Celtic elder – played by Crowe – as he tries to protect his family from invading Roman legions. The drama is said to be sparked when the film’s Roman emperor discovers the secluded Druid haven ‘in the Caledonian mountains’ where Crowe and his family live. It is not clear yet how closely the script, written by director William Eubank and his collaborators Phil Gawthorne and Carlyle Eubank will stick to historical accounts of the Roman invasion of Britain. The Roman armies tried to conquer Scotland three times, but each was short-lived. Game of Thrones actress Rose Leslie will star in the epic movie The Last Druid Australian star Russell Crowe faces the Roman legions in his latest epic film  What we now know as Scotland was referred to as Caledonia by the Romans and was made up of several tribes that they called the ‘Caledonians’. However, despite the movie’s clear connection to Scotland and it’s past, it is not clear if any filming will actually take place here. According to entertainment website Deadline, the film will begin production on June 8 in Barcelona and the Canary Islands, Spain. While her role in the new movie has not yet been revealed, Ms Leslie, 39, will undoubtedly feel comfortable with the subject matter given her Scottish heritage. Her family has owned Wardhill Castle, in Aberdeenshire, for 800 years. These days, the castle, where Ms Leslie married her actor husband Kit Harington, is run by her brother William. Her part in a movie set in the rugged mountains of Scotland has parallels to her previous role playing Ygritte in TV fantasy Game of Thrones. That character was part of a savage tribe of people referred to as ‘wildlings’. Crowe’s new role is the polar opposite of the character that made him famous. His portrayal of Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius in 2000 film Gladiator solidified his place as a Hollywood star. Most recently, he has been filming in Scotland for the remake of 1986 cult movie Highlander alongside Scots actors Karen Gillan and Kevin McKidd, and Superman actor Henry Cavill, who plays the lead role of immortal Scots warrior Connor MacLeod. Crowe will play Ramirez - another of the film’s ‘immortals,’ taking on the role played by Scots Hollywood icon Sir Sean Connery in the original. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.