King Conan is once again making headlines in Hollywood as Arnold Schwarzenegger prepares to return to one of the most iconic roles of his career. After more than four decades since the original film, the legendary actor has confirmed that development for a new Conan the Barbarian sequel is finally moving forward.
The project, currently known as King Conan, has been gaining momentum behind the scenes. Fans of the classic fantasy franchise may soon see the legendary warrior back on the big screen in a story that continues the saga of Conan many years after his rise to power.
A Long-Awaited Sequel for the Classic Fantasy Franchise
Hollywood has attempted several times to revive the Conan the Barbarian universe, but the new King Conan film appears to be closer to reality than previous attempts.
According to recent reports, 20th Century Studios has brought filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie onto the project. McQuarrie is widely known for directing several blockbuster films in the Mission: Impossible series starring Tom Cruise. He is expected to both write and direct the new movie.
The goal of the project is to bring Arnold Schwarzenegger back to the role that helped launch his career in Hollywood. The actor first portrayed the legendary warrior in 1982’s Conan the Barbarian, followed by the sequel Conan the Destroyer in 1984.
The character itself was originally created in 1932 by writer Robert E. Howard, and over the decades it became one of the most influential heroes in fantasy fiction.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Confirms the King Conan Story
Arnold Schwarzenegger recently spoke about the project during the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, where he revealed new details about the direction of the upcoming King Conan story.
According to the actor, the new film will follow an older Conan who has ruled as king for many years. Over time, however, he becomes comfortable in his position and eventually loses control of his kingdom.
The story then shifts into a dramatic journey of revenge and redemption. Conan must fight his way back, leading to an epic adventure filled with battles, magic, monsters, and large-scale fantasy action.
Schwarzenegger also noted that modern filmmaking technology will allow the film to achieve a much larger scale than the original movies from the 1980s. With today’s advanced visual effects and larger studio budgets, the world of King Conan could be presented in a far more ambitious way.
Other Possible Returns: Predator and Commando
During the same event, Schwarzenegger hinted that King Conan may not be the only iconic character he might revisit.
The actor revealed that he has also spoken with director Dan Trachtenberg, who successfully revived the Predator franchise with the 2022 film Prey. Discussions have reportedly included the possibility of Schwarzenegger returning to the Predator universe.
In addition, Schwarzenegger confirmed that he has read a script for Commando 2, a potential sequel to the 1985 action classic. If the project moves forward, the actor could once again play Colonel John Matrix, one of his most memorable action roles.
Decades of Attempts to Revive Conan
The idea of a King Conan movie has existed in Hollywood for years. Studios have repeatedly explored ways to continue the story with Schwarzenegger returning as an older version of the character.
Earlier versions of the project were once being developed at Universal Pictures. At the time, Fast & Furious writer Chris Morgan was reportedly working on a script designed specifically for an older Conan. The story was said to take inspiration from films like Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven, focusing on an aging warrior returning for one final battle.
Despite those early plans, the project never moved into production.
Development Is Moving Forward Again
More recently, 20th Century Studios has reportedly spent the past year reorganizing the rights to the Conan character and exploring new ways to bring the franchise back to theaters.
While King Conan is still in development, Schwarzenegger’s comments suggest that the project is now moving in a promising direction. With a major director involved and renewed interest from studios, the long-awaited sequel could finally become reality.
For fans of the classic fantasy hero, the return of King Conan may soon deliver the epic continuation they have been waiting decades to see.
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