Arnold Schwarzenegger, Christopher McQuarrie Develop New ‘Conan’ Movie
Arnold Schwarzenegger is set to return in a new installment of the iconic Conan the Barbarian franchise titled “King Conan.” This project is currently in development at 20th Century Studios, with Christopher McQuarrie, known for his work on the Mission: Impossible series, attached as both writer and director.
Details About “King Conan”
The announcement was made by Schwarzenegger during the recent Arnold Sports Festival held in Columbus, Ohio. He shared that the film will explore a story where Conan, after ruling for forty years, is expelled from his kingdom. The narrative promises conflict, excitement, and a mix of magic and mythical creatures.
The Legacy of Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian, a character created by Robert E. Howard, first appeared in the 1930s in Weird Tales magazine. He is characterized as a powerful warrior navigating through a world filled with violence, political drama, and supernatural challenges in the fictional Hyborian Age. The original film was released in 1982 and helped establish Schwarzenegger as a prominent action star.
- The first film grossed over $68 million globally.
- It gained a cult following and led to a sequel, “Conan the Destroyer,” in 1984.
- Schwarzenegger planned a third film, “Conan the Conqueror,” in the late 1980s, but production was never realized.
Franchise Attempts and Reboots
The first two films were distributed by Universal Pictures. In 2011, Lionsgate attempted to reboot the series with Jason Momoa in the lead role. This reboot grossed over $63 million but failed to secure additional films due to mixed reviews.
Current Projects for Schwarzenegger and McQuarrie
Schwarzenegger recently starred in the Netflix series “Fubar” and will appear in the upcoming Amazon MGM holiday film “The Man with the Bag.” He is represented by UTA and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, and Lavely & Singer. Meanwhile, Christopher McQuarrie is fresh off the success of “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” which earned nearly $600 million globally. He is represented by Greenberg Glusker.
The collaboration between Schwarzenegger and McQuarrie for “King Conan” has generated excitement among fans of the franchise, eagerly anticipating a continuation of Conan’s legendary story.
