Arnold Schwarzenegger, the iconic actor from the 1980s, is reportedly in discussions to return in movies revisiting some of his most memorable roles. The 78-year-old hinted at possible sequels to the Predator franchise, Conan the Barbarian, and Commando during a recent appearance at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, signaling exciting developments for fans of these classic action films.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Discusses Revival of His Classic Action Roles
During a panel at the Arnold Sports Festival held over the weekend, Schwarzenegger spoke about negotiations underway that could see him step back into characters that defined his career decades ago. He specifically mentioned the Predator series as a focal point of this resurgence, highlighting ongoing efforts to revive these franchises for modern audiences.
Referring to the Predator franchise, Schwarzenegger commented on recent installments under director Dan Trachtenberg, who helmed 2022’s Prey and last year’s Predator: Badlands.
“They did a remake of Predator — not a remake but an additional Predator, and that latest director, he’s been doing a great job with that. And so now he wants me to be in the next Predator,”
Arnold revealed, indicating mutual interest in bringing back his original character, Dutch, from the 1987 film.
The audience showed enthusiasm at the mention of Schwarzenegger’s involvement, to which he responded,
“So we were talking about it.”
He further disclosed,
“Fox Studio has kind of rediscovered Arnold. They come to me and they say, ‘We want you to do Predator, we just got the script for you to do Commando 2,’ and they just hired a writer-director who did Tom Cruise’s last four movies, a fantastic writer-director — they hired him to write and direct King Conan.”
This opening suggests an industry push to reignite interest in these franchises with Schwarzenegger at their center.
New Projects in the Works for Conan and Commando Franchises
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed on March 9 that Christopher McQuarrie, noted for his work on the Mission: Impossible series, will write and direct a sequel titled King Conan. This film is intended as a continuation of the 1982 original Conan the Barbarian film, which Schwarzenegger starred in, as well as its 1984 follow-up.
With regard to Commando 2, Schwarzenegger shared that Fox Studios recently provided him with a script for the sequel to the 1984 film, where he originally played a former U.S. special forces soldier fighting back against mercenaries after the abduction of his daughter. This announcement points to a renewed effort to expand upon the nostalgic appeal of 1980s action classics.
Predator Franchise Producer Confirms Discussions with Schwarzenegger
Ben Rosenblatt, producer of Predator: Badlands, revealed at the film’s premiere last November that Dan Trachtenberg and Schwarzenegger had met multiple times regarding the Predator series.
“Obviously, the holy grail of Predator movies would be getting Arnold back in there,”
Rosenblatt stated, adding,
“And it’s always been something in the back of our minds that it would be really great to see him come back to this franchise that he’s made iconic, and that’s made him iconic.”
These comments underscore the ongoing optimism about Schwarzenegger’s return to this signature role.
Schwarzenegger’s Upcoming Roles to Reflect His Age and Experience
Schwarzenegger recently appeared in the second season of the Netflix series FUBAR and in 2019’s Terminator: Dark Fate, but he suggested future roles in these rebooted franchises will acknowledge his age.
“I’m still going to kick some ass, but it will be kind of a bit different,”
he explained during the conversation. He further elaborated on the plot of King Conan, describing Conan as a king for 40 years who becomes complacent before being gradually forced out of his kingdom.
“And now he gets forced out of the kingdom slowly and then there’s conflict, of course, and then he somehow comes back, and there’s all kinds of madness and violence and magic.”
This approach hints at more mature, complex narratives in line with Schwarzenegger’s current stage in life, while still delivering the intense action and drama fans expect.
What Fans Can Expect Moving Forward
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s potential returns to the Predator, Conan, and Commando franchises mark an exciting chapter for fans of classic action films. These revivals, backed by respected directors and producers, may bring a fresh perspective to well-known characters while honoring their original legacies. As negotiations continue and scripts develop, audiences can anticipate new installments that blend nostalgia with contemporary storytelling.
The involvement of high-profile creators like Christopher McQuarrie and Dan Trachtenberg, along with Schwarzenegger’s willingness to reprise these iconic roles, positions these projects as significant events in Hollywood’s action movie landscape. Observers will be watching closely for official announcements and release dates as these much-anticipated films move closer to production.
