Arnold Schwarzenegger Returns for King Conan Alongside Mission: Impossible Director
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Arnold Schwarzenegger is officially returning for a new King Conan movie written and directed by Mission: Impossible filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie at 20th Century Studios.
Action cinema icon Arnold Schwarzenegger is stepping back into one of his most legendary roles for a brand new feature film. Speaking to TheArnoldFans, Schwarzenegger revealed that King Conan is officially in development at Disney's 20th Century Studios with Christopher McQuarrie attached to write and direct. McQuarrie brings serious blockbuster pedigree to the project, having steered the direction of the latest installments in the Mission: Impossible franchise alongside Tom Cruise. The film will draw inspiration from Robert E. Howard's classic source material, following an aging ruler forced out of his kingdom who must fight his way back through conflict and creatures.
Development on a proper follow-up to the 1982 original has been stalled for decades. Plans for a continuation stalled in the late 1990s when Schwarzenegger transitioned into politics, and subsequent attempts in the 2010s ultimately dissolved before cameras rolled. Now at age 78, the star confirmed that the script will embrace an age-appropriate angle rather than trying to recreate his 1980s physique. Viewers can still expect classic action sequences, just tailored to fit the character's seasoned status.
This project marks a massive shift for McQuarrie, who has spent the last decade deeply embedded in the Tom Cruise ecosystem on films like Top Gun: Maverick and Edge of Tomorrow. Beyond the return of Conan, Schwarzenegger also hinted that 20th Century Studios has broader plans for his classic catalog. Predator franchise director Dan Trachtenberg reportedly wants him back in that sci-fi universe, and studio executives have even drafted a script for a sequel to the 1985 action classic Commando. Original reporting by Oli Welsh at Polygon.
Tags: Movies, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Action, Gaming Culture, Entertainment
Original article: Polygon