The Spanish-born Fresnadillo is now at the Toronto International Film Festival promoting Intruders, his upcoming thriller starring Clive Owen and Carice van Houten.  His most high-profile film thus far was the 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later, which was a rare film that included zombies being decapitated by helicopter blades.  Back in 1996, Fresnadillo was nominated for an Oscar on account of his short film Linked, which he followed up his first feature, the Spanish thriller Intacto.  He's currently attached to direct a remake of The Crow, the 1994 film based on the comic book by James O'Barr.

Deadline broke the story of the writer-director's potential involvement with Highlander, and Mike Fleming's exclusive report also mentions that Melissa Rosenberg, who adapted all of Stephenie Meyer's novels into the Twilight films, recently provided a polish to the screenplay.  In May, Summit announced that Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, a duo who contributed to the Iron Man screenplay, were writing the script.

That announcement also emphatically stated that Justin Lin was still on board as a director on the project, which is being produced by Neal H. Mortiz and Peter Davis.  Lin became attached in September 2009, shortly after providing Universal with a hit in the form of Fast and Furious, his second entry in that franchise.  After Fast Five became a huge hit at the start of summer, however, Lin's dance card rapidly filled up, as he committed to a sixth The Fast and the Furious and signed on to a potential fifth Terminator film with original star, former California Governor, and world-class philanderer Arnold Schwarzenegger set to return.

With Summit eager to get Highlander off the ground and Lin next making Fast Six (not a real title), a month ago the director amicably stepped aside, though he will remain on board as a producer.  If you're unfamiliar with Highlander, its four theatrical sequels, or the two television series bearing its name, the story follows immortals who absorb each others' power through beheading.