Arnold Schwarzenegger has officially confirmed his comeback to the beloved fantasy action franchise Conan, returning to the role that launched his acting career. The new film, titled King Conan, will be written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, known for his work on the Mission: Impossible series. This exciting development was announced during Schwarzenegger’s recent appearance at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio.
Details on King Conan’s Story and Production
According to Schwarzenegger, FOX Studios is fully committed to producing the follow-up to the original 1982 Conan the Barbarian and its 1984 sequel, Conan the Destroyer. The actor explained that Christopher McQuarrie was brought on board due to his impressive track record with Tom Cruise’s last four films. Schwarzenegger emphasized that the new story will reflect an older, more mature Conan, saying the role will be “age-appropriate” while still promising plenty of action and intensity.
Schwarzenegger described King Conan’s narrative as focusing on Conan’s forty years as king before he is forced to leave his kingdom. The plot will include elements of conflict, magic, and mythical creatures, enhanced by advanced special effects supported by a strong studio budget.
“There’s all kinds of madness, violence, magic, and creatures and stuff like that,”
Schwarzenegger said, highlighting the scale and ambition of the project.
Other Potential Returns and Franchise Plans
Beyond the King Conan announcement, Schwarzenegger shared updates on his involvement with other franchises. He mentioned discussions with FOX Studios about joining a new Predator movie, with director Dan Trachtenberg spearheading the project. Schwarzenegger revealed the studio also approached him with a script for a potential Commando sequel, indicating a broader interest in reviving some of his classic roles.
Long-Awaited Return to the Conan Franchise
Talk of Schwarzenegger’s return to the Conan saga has circulated for over a decade, dating back to 2012 when producers Chris Morgan and Frederick Malmberg announced plans for a sequel called The Legend of Conan. This latest confirmation marks a significant step forward for fans awaiting the actor’s revival of the iconic character.
Anticipation Builds for King Conan and Schwarzenegger’s Future Projects
With King Conan moving into active development and Schwarzenegger engaged in discussions about other franchise films, his presence remains a powerful force in Hollywood action cinema. The project’s ambitious scope and the involvement of high-profile talent signal a promising new chapter for the Conan story, appealing both to longtime fans and new audiences. As FOX Studios invests in advanced effects and large-scale production, King Conan is expected to deliver a memorable cinematic experience that honors Schwarzenegger’s legacy while introducing fresh elements to the franchise.
“They just hired a fantastic writer/director who did Tom Cruise’s last four movies,” Arnold Schwarzenegger, Actor
“They just hired [Christopher McQuarrie] to write and direct King Conan.” Arnold Schwarzenegger, Actor
“still go in there and kick some ass, but it will be different.” Arnold Schwarzenegger, Actor
“With King Conan, it’s a great old story that Conan was forty years as King, and now he gets forced out of the kingdom, and there’s conflict, of course, but somehow he comes back, and there’s all kinds of madness, violence, magic, and creatures and stuff like that. And now, of course, there [are] all kinds of special effects. The studio has plenty of money to make those movies really big, so I’m looking forward to all of those projects.” Arnold Schwarzenegger, Actor
“They did an additional Predator, and the director (Dan Trachtenberg) has been doing a great job of that,” Arnold Schwarzenegger, Actor
“Now, he wants me to be in the next Predator. We’ve talked about it. As a matter of fact, FOX Studios has kind of rediscovered ‘Arnold.’ They’ve come to me and said, ‘We want you to do Predator, we just got a script for you to do Commando 2.” Arnold Schwarzenegger, Actor
