The sword and sorcery fantasy genre is experiencing a timid comeback, supported by recent titles like Masters of the Universe and a renewed interest in 80s franchises, including Conan. Arnold Schwarzenegger, in his recent appearance at the Arnold Sports Festival, suggested that Fox Studios has begun to rediscover his figure, which could open the door to a new Conan movie, as well as other projects like Predator and Commando.
Conan lives, the fight continues
Schwarzenegger confirmed that Christopher McQuarrie, known for his work on the successful Mission: Impossible franchise, will be the writer and director of King Conan. This has generated high expectations for the project, which will explore Conan’s life 40 years after he took the throne, facing chaos and violence after being exiled from his kingdom.
The previous releases of Conan have recorded mixed performances at the box office, with the 2011 version starring Jason Momoa being one of the most disappointing, as it did not achieve the expected success. While the original 1982 film and its sequel were received with greater success, the industry seems ready to consider a resurrection of this classic franchise, similar to what happened with Dune.
Schwarzenegger also emphasized that, while he is very willing to reprise his iconic role, the focus of King Conan will be in line with his current age. According to his words, McQuarrie will need to adjust the script, acknowledging that they don’t write as if he were 40 years old. Although there is no official confirmation from McQuarrie, Schwarzenegger’s statements suggest a clear desire to revive the sword and sorcery fantasy genre with a new approach, which could bring back a type of adventure that has been considered almost extinct.