Arnold Schwarzenegger is preparing to return to the big screen by reviving three of his iconic action franchises from the 1980s. The actor shared this news during his recent appearance at the Arnold Sports Expo held in Columbus, Ohio, where he discussed upcoming developments in the Conan the Barbarian, Predator, and Commando series.
New Conan the Barbarian Film in Development
Schwarzenegger first gained fame with the role of Conan the Barbarian in 1982, followed by the sequel Conan the Destroyer in 1984. Although Jason Momoa starred as Conan in a 2011 reboot that underperformed commercially, Schwarzenegger is now involved with a fresh Conan project titled King Conan. The new film is said to be crafted by an acclaimed writer and director linked to Tom Cruise’s recent Mission: Impossible series, likely Christopher McQuarrie, known for directing Rogue Nation, Fallout, Dead Reckoning, and The Final Reckoning.
Schwarzenegger indicated the script will reflect Conan’s age, stating he will
“still go in there and kick some ass and stuff like that, but it will be different.”
He described the story as involving:
“With King Conan, of course, it’s a great old story that Conan was 40 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 like that,”
Arnold Schwarzenegger
He also mentioned the benefits of modern filmmaking technology and studio backing:
“And now, of course, there’s all kinds of special effects. The studio has plenty of money to make those movies really big.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Potential Returns to Commando and Predator Franchises
At the same event, Schwarzenegger discussed his interest in revisiting his other famous roles. Regarding the Predator franchise, he referenced director Dan Trachtenberg’s recent work and confirmed conversations about his involvement in the next film.
He told the audience, reflecting on the studio’s renewed interest:
“Fox studios has kind of rediscovered Arnold.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Schwarzenegger added that both Predator and Commando sequels are in the planning stages, noting:
“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
Schwarzenegger originally led Commando in 1985 and starred in the first Predator film in 1987, though he did not participate in its subsequent sequels. However, he approved the use of his likeness for the animated 2025 film Predator: Killer of Killers, which includes his Dutch character in a post-credits appearance.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Schwarzenegger’s Action Legacy
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s attempt to reignite these legendary series demonstrates his ongoing influence in Hollywood, as well as the studios’ trust in his marketability. By returning to characters like King Conan, Dutch from Predator, and his Commando persona, Schwarzenegger hopes to blend nostalgia with modern storytelling, attracting both longtime fans and new audiences. These projects are expected to leverage cutting-edge special effects and contemporary narratives to redefine classic roles thoughtfully.
If successful, these revivals could mark a significant resurgence for Schwarzenegger’s action franchises, potentially leading to new sequels and expanded stories that honor the originals while adapting to current cinematic trends.
