Arnold Schwarzenegger returns for The Legend of Conan
Fredrik Malmberg and Christopher Morgan will produce for Universal, who hold worldwide rights to the film. Christopher Morgan may write the screenplay as well. This action adventure based on the works of Robert E. Howard will serve as Universal's tentpole picture for the summer of 2014. Christopher Morgan is currently working on the seventh Fast & Furious script for the studio now, and if he is not finished in time to write this himself, he will stay attached as a very active producer.
This will be Arnold Schwarzenegger's third time playing the legendary barbarian. Though there was an attempt to reboot the franchise in the summer of 2011 with Jason Momoa playing Conan the Barbarian, producer Fredrik Malmberg claims this is the movie they really wanted to make. Only, they couldn't do it while Arnold Schwarzenegger was still in the governor's office.
"The original ended with Arnold on the throne as a seasoned warrior, and this is the take of the film we will make. It's that Nordic Viking mythic guy who has played the role of king, warrior, soldier and mercenary, and who has bedded more women than anyone, nearing the last cycle of his life. He knows he'll be going to Valhalla, and wants to go out with a good battle.
After the original seminal movie, all that came after looked silly to me. Robert E. Howard's mythology and some great philosophy from Nietzsche to Atilla the Hun was layered in the original film. People say, he didn't speak for the first 20 minutes of the film, but that was calculated in depicting this man who takes control of life with his own hand. This movie picks up Conan where Arnold is now in his life, and we will be able to use the fact that he has aged in this story. I love the property of Conan so much that I wouldn't touch it unless we came up with something worthy. We think this is a worthy successor to the original film. Think of this as Conan's Unforgiven."
After the original seminal movie, all that came after looked silly to me. Robert E. Howard's mythology and some great philosophy from Nietzsche to Atilla the Hun was layered in the original film. People say, he didn't speak for the first 20 minutes of the film, but that was calculated in depicting this man who takes control of life with his own hand. This movie picks up Conan where Arnold is now in his life, and we will be able to use the fact that he has aged in this story. I love the property of Conan so much that I wouldn't touch it unless we came up with something worthy. We think this is a worthy successor to the original film. Think of this as Conan's Unforgiven."
There are no plans for Jason Momoa to return to the character, with The Legend of Conan completely skipping over that failed installment of the franchise. It will also skip over the 1984 sequel Conan the Destroyer, which actually starred Arnold Schwarzenegger. This new incarnation will serve as a direct link to the original film.
Though an R rating is not set in stone for this follow-up, the producers plan to stay true to the material.
"I loved the choices they made in that film. You start with the wholesale slaughter and death of Conan's village at the hand of the warlord played by James Earl Jones, and you see young Conan chained to a wheel as he becomes stronger. Then he's a pit fighter, and later basically a stud bull before he meets the first kind person of his life, who lets him go. All of that horrific stuff happened for a reason, and then an act of kindness sends him on his journey. Will that level of violence be there? Absolutely, but only if it serves a character who lives by that barbarian law of the wild, who is capable of extreme violence and rage, but who has created his own code and operates from within it. By the end of that film, Conan became a certain character, and this film picks him up there, as he faces different challenges that include dealing with age."
This is what Arnold Schwarzenegger had to say.
"I always loved the Conan character and I'm honored to be asked to step into the role once again. I can't wait to work with Universal and the great team of Fredrik Malmberg and Christopher Morgan to develop the next step of this truly epic story."
The Legend of Conan comes to theaters in 2014 and stars Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Comments (38)
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Vanboy
@Mutant, you either watched the TV version of The Barbarian or you are just going by The Destroyer, which did have less blood. Rent Conan The Barbarian and you will see the blood flying with every kill.
7 months agoby @vanboyFlag
CelluloidDreams
I guess the rent is due!?.
7 months agoby @2movieguysFlag
Mutant
Arnold's Conan lacked blood, it's too pg
7 months agoby @zenderFlag
Vanboy
@dcrock, I just read your King Conan comment. Like I posted, I have always wondered what happened with that title. "The Legend of Conan" sounds like a weak Tarzan or Zorro chapter. Malmberg and Morgan, don't be stupid, change the name to KING CONAN!
7 months agoby @vanboyFlag
Vanboy
@Mutant, Momoa is a flash in the pan. The latest "pretty boy" (yeah, right) to try to a great character created by Arnold, and fail. His Conan was laughable. He just acted angry and talked with a gravely voice like Christian Bale's Batman. His Conan had no intriguing qualities. His Conan could have been a SyFy original movie, or a direct to DVD movie.
7 months agoby @vanboyFlag
Vanboy
@LuxoIII, what's your problem? Do you want these guys to just disappear? Momoa was a new incarnation of Conan and he sucked. I knew that he was going to suck rotten eggs, because nobody can be Conan like Arnold. This should be King Conan though. What happened to that? As much as I didn't like Conan the Destroyer, I don't think they should skip over it. When the trilogy comes out one day, it won't really be a trilogy. I never liked that Destroyer didn't have Gerry Lopez, but instead had Tracey Walter from "Repo Man". In that one scene when they're riding through the village, Walter asks Arnold, "Hey doesn't that camel look familiar?", and Arnold punches it after the camel spits on him. Walter wasn't even there to see the camel that Arnold punched in the first movie, it was Gerry Lopez. I don't know why Lopez wasn't in Destroyer. It would have been much better if he was, I think. Destroyer also got a little cartoonish with that wizard turning into half lizard with the non-moving mouth and the movie seemed like it had more of a cheap glossy production, as apposed to the gritty feel of Barbarian. At least Mako was in it.
This new sequel should have happened a long time ago. I always thought that Arnold's governor run was a big mistake. He conquered Hollywood, but his ego got the best of him and he wasted all of that time, when he could have been making sequels to his hits. He should have made King Conan before he became governor.
Well, at least this is great news. I can't wait!
7 months agoby @vanboyFlag
LuxoIII
Another "remember me? I'm an icon from 20 years ago and now OLD" movie. Joining Indiana Jones 4, Rambo, and Die Hard 4.
7 months agoby @brady1138Flag
dcrock
Just look at the new picture of him in Ten. He may be older but he's looking tougher than ever. They need to keep the King Conan name though. Any real fan of Arnold has wanted this movie.
7 months agoby @dcrockFlag
THE JOKER
I am ok with this! Arnold has always been Conan to me
7 months agoby @mcleve02Flag
Mutant
Not the only actor, it's in this order, Arnold, tv actor, Jason. I forgot the name of the actor from the TV show but he was in Scorpion King.
I always thought The Rock would have been a great Conan.
7 months agoby @zenderFlag
phatalphd
My inner child is screaming....OMFG!! YES!! There wasnt a movie I watched as a kid more the conan. Arnold is the one and only conan, so im extremely excited and curious how this is gonna turn out. Prolly some of the best news Ive heard outta hollywood in a while (fanboy talking)
7 months agoby @phatalphdFlag
Cartman
omg why doz he wanna do this role with "flabby, handing skin and zero muscle"... pls retire sir... saying this as a fan!!
7 months agoby @c-a-r-t-m-a-nFlag
incmob
of course, i hope they dont try to throw in little jokes about his age like they did with indiana jones... and hope it is more serious like barbarian than destroyer.
7 months agoby @incmobFlag
incmob
YES! this is actually something arnold wanted to do before being governor but was in development hell for awhile. this is great... of course arnold is going to have to get back into better shape than he is but i am excited to see him return to this role.
on another note i did like the reboot. i thought i would hate it but thought it was well done enough for a reboot.
7 months agoby @incmobFlag
ollie-styrene
This is actually a very good idea,.. and a great oportunity to end up with two great films, the original, and this one.. and the idea that this will take place during the late years in Conans life is suitable.. Arnold cant play a young guy anyway.. Hopefully they will treat the story with respect for both the source material and the original motion picture... Go Arnold!!
7 months agoby @ollie-styreneFlag
Mutant
They are both hard headed and determined to out do each other.
7 months agoby @zenderFlag
Mutant
I would laugh if this happened. Arnold comes back to finish his Conan, Jason makes another which he's still pushing, Arnold returns for a fourth, yet Jason won't give up.
You either hate or love them, but you got to admit it's still entertainment. Scoff all you will.
My bet is Jason takes on action films as well and gets involved with one of the Expendable films.
7 months agoby @zenderFlag
moviegeek
Conan is lame. Old and new.
7 months agoby @moviegeekFlag
Bane5000
Mongol General: Conan! What is best in life?
Conan: To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.
7 months agoby @bane5000Flag
Bane5000
@cualpeco ...Yes on both counts, he was Simerian and he prayed to Crom..." Crom laughs at your Gods " :]
7 months agoby @bane5000Flag
MovieWiz001
O.o even though that it was a horrid fail... the remake has already been done. I'd find it very odd to make a sequel to something of the past that has already been remade. That's like making Spidey 4 after The Amazing Spider Man
7 months agoby @moviewiz001Flag
The Real Goku
sounded horrible at first. But it can work if they make it about an older
Conan
7 months agoby @therealGokuFlag
CUPID
I'm up for any Arnold movie.....but C'mon on his ass is definitely too old for this sh*t.
7 months agoby @cupidFlag
cualpeco
My guess is it will suck just by reading that they're saying Conan is a Viking and that when he dies he's going to Valhalla? Wasn't he Simerian or something like that and his god called Crom?
7 months agoby @cualpecoFlag
ROFLitschristian
Ehhhhhh...
7 months agoby @ROFLitschristianFlag
Bawnian©-Dexeus
Sure, why not? Bring the story full circle.
7 months agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
Dbzfan91
For the love of god no.... I am pumped that Arnold is back in action but really?? Conan??? I rather see him in something new over a sequel to a movie that was mad like 30 years ago....
7 months agoby @dbzfan91Flag
Cripple
I think I might cry. I always wanted that 3rd Conan film. And now we are getting it...Dreams do come true.
7 months agoby @crippleFlag
Bane5000
@spider-one...The movie does indeed need to end with Old Man Conan with a full on beard sitting on the throne as teased in the other films.
7 months agoby @bane5000Flag
felipe-11
@moviefreak97 same here. I can't even believe they're willing to make another one of these after the reboot didn't even make half it's budget back, and was critically panned.
7 months agoby @felipe-11Flag