Arnie Still Yearns for a 'King Conan' Sequel: Will We Ever See the Barbarian on the Throne?
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Arnold Schwarzenegger is still keen on a 'King Conan' sequel, but the project's been stuck in development hell for years due to rights issues and studio hesitations - will we ever see Arnie as the King?
Right, so Arnold Schwarzenegger – the man, the myth, the Austrian Oak – has been chatting again about the one sequel he desperately wants to see happen: King Conan. And honestly, who *wouldn't* want to see Arnie, grizzled and wise, dispensing justice (and probably a few well-placed sword blows) from the throne of Aquilonia?
For those who somehow missed it (blasphemy, I say!), Arnie burst onto the scene as Conan the Barbarian back in '82, a glorious sword-and-sorcery romp that still holds up today. We *did* get a sequel, 'Conan the Destroyer', but let’s be honest, it wasn’t quite the same, was it? (Though Grace Jones was brilliant, fair play.)
According to a recent chat with Collider while promoting his series 'Fubar' (catchy title, that), Arnie reckons a 'King Conan' franchise could be "really, really good" if it had the "right director and the right writing." He's not wrong, is he?
But what's been holding it up? Well, the path to King Conan has been paved with more twists and turns than a Hyborian dungeon. We’re talking scrapped scripts, studio cold feet, and a whole lot of rights-related shenanigans. A 2023 article in The Daily Telegraph revealed that John Milius (director of the original) apparently had his own script blocked by The Wachowskis (of Matrix fame), who wanted to put their “personal spin” on the story. (Yeah, I'm not sure about that either, mate.)
Then there was a script by Chris Morgan (Fast and the Furious), described as a Conan version of Clint Eastwood's 'Unforgiven.' Sounds amazing, right? Apparently, the studio thought it was too expensive and weren't sure about the title's relevance. (Bloody hell!)
And the saga continues! Two years ago, Arnie told The Hollywood Reporter that the project has been “pending” for a decade, pointing the finger at current rights holder Fredrik Malmberg. "It’s one of those crazy things," Arnie said, expressing his frustration. Malmberg responded on social media, claiming he spent three years chatting with Netflix and is now working with a "major filmmaker" who is a "true Conan fan".
So, where does that leave us? Is Arnie, nearing his 80s, too old to wield the broadsword? Hopefully not, because the image of King Conan, sitting on that throne, promising more tales, still lingers in the mind. Until then, we've got the new Red Sonja movie to look forward to (trailer dropped last week!), but the 'King Conan' shaped hole in our hearts remains.
Personally, I reckon a late-stage Conan, reflecting on his battles and ruling with a weary wisdom, could be something truly special. A proper send-off to a character that defined a generation. But, as always, the gaming gods (read: studio executives) hold the key. Let's hope they finally unlock this one.
Tags: Conan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sequel, King Conan, Movies
Original article: IGN South Africa