King Conan AKA The Legend of Conan, like most projects that had the unfortunate timing of development in the Covid era, has likely experienced delays. The last published talks with Arnold Schwarzenegger regarding the John Milius project were regarding format, which fans hope will be in feature form, completing a trilogy of Conan films. While the tone of Barbarian and Destroyer were wildly different, perhaps this latest Conan entry will find a balance between the two, delivering high adventure, brutal action, and fantasy elements in an appropriate send-off project for Schwarzenegger akin to the upcoming Indiana Jones 5 for Harrison Ford or Rambo: Last Blood for Sylvester Stallone.
While the Terminator franchise may be Schwarzenegger's most popular films, Conan is arguably just as iconic, predating Terminator by fifty-two years. Conan The Barbarian was created by Robert E. Howard in 1932, and first published for a series of fantasy stories in Weird Tales magazine. The film adaptation in 1982 propelled Schwarzenegger into stardom and is still regarded as one of the greatest fantasy films of all time, responsible for creating an entire sub-genre of Sword and Sorcery cinema that was popular in the 1980s.
With the popularity of shows like Game of Thrones, The Witcher, and the upcoming Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, the fantasy genre is experiencing a resurgence. Now would be an excellent time for Schwarzenegger and Millius to team up once again and deliver a more contemporary take on the franchise. While Richard Fleischer's 1984 sequel, Conan The Destroyer, divided audiences over the more kid-friendly approach with a PG rating, the movie has acquired a cult following for its campiness and shameless fun, as it pits Conan against more blatant fantasy schlock with cool practical effects and creatures. A little-known fact is the giant black horned demon monster called Dagoth that Conan fights in the end was performed by André René Roussimoff, AKA Andre The Giant. The film also had the luxury of being scored once again by the irreplaceable Basil Poledouris, who had a knack for creating film score masterpieces.
Fleischer also directed Red Sonja a year later, another character from the same universe as Conan. Schwarzenegger appears in Red Sonja but could not be referred to as Conan in the film due to rights issues. Instead, he is called Kalidor, but fans of the comics are quick to point out that Kalidor is the name Conan takes on after receiving royal status. 1997's Kull the Conqueror, featuring Kevin Sorbo and Tia Carrere, was another effort to expand Robert E. Howard's fantasy universe on screen, but the film was not received well. Considering how forgotten it is, the movie is worth another look, bolstering some impressive production value and now 1990s nostalgia. Conan The Barbarian received a remake in 2011 starring Jason Momoa, but the PG-13 film wasn't received well, made at a time when studios were carelessly remaking beloved franchise films.
Conan Unleashed
Fans are speculating on some different ways Conan could return. At one point, there was talk of Paul Verhoeven potentially directing the film, which would have undoubtedly delivered a provocative movie, especially if there is any inspiration to be taken from Sylvester Stallone's recent bold and brutal creative decisions toward excessive violence. There is something palpable about seeing these action stars in a more rugged state, yet still physically impressive on-screen, dishing out overt levels of gore on their enemies. Fans would likely embrace an absolute gore fest with Schwarzenegger swinging a giant sword around with endless buckets of blood on hand. Conan was also a very likable and charismatic character, so balancing the brutality with levity may also be something we can expect to see.
The Final Battle
Some specific storylines were recently highlighted on TVOvermind by fans excited about the return of Conan. Suggestions included the return of Dagoth from Conan The Destroyer (though it's rumored the next film will disregard the events of Destroyer), revenge of The Servants of Set, the snake cult established impeccably well by actor James Earl Jones in the original film, and an earthly personification of Crom, the god worshipped by Conan. This particular idea may be worth exploring, considering the high stakes that could come with it, such an epic plot device that may be appropriate for the final outing. The film could take on a Clash of The Titans vibe with celestial beings involved.
However, as things shake out, fans hope that Schwarzenegger is gearing up to play the Barbarian again. His recent portrayal of Zeus in the BMW Super Bowl ad proves just how formidable the actor can now appear in royal garb. On keeping up with his health and body, the actor recently equated working out with a routine as regular as eating breakfast. It has always played a major role in his life, from which he continues to reap the rewards, looking fantastic as he nears his mid-seventies.