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 movie 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 Post visited the street on Friday as crews were dismantling the movie 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 more than 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 in the city, 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. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
