New Conan still in the works, called "Conan the Conqueror"

[wormoftheearth]

From  comicbook.com/2016/01/26/arnold-schwarzenegger-says-new-conan-film-still-in-works-calls-i/

Schwarzenegger said the project is still very much in development, though he referred to the project, previously dubbed The Legend of Conan, by a different name, Conan the Conqueror.

Here’s what Schwarzenegger had to say, according to The Arnold Fans:

"Conan the Conqueror,” says Arnold, "where I’m sitting on the throne for years and years - decades, and then all of the sudden, the time comes when they want to overthrow me. So that story WILL be told and that movie WILL be done."

“Yes,” confirms Arnold, “as a matter of fact, it (The Legend of Conan) has been written and we are now looking for directors so this is a serious drive (now for Conan).”

I remember a rumor that this was going to be loosely based around David Gemmell's Legend, swapping out Druss for an aging King Conan. Not sure if there was ever any truth to it.

Regardless, the rumor made me realize something: A Gemmell-esque "impossible siege" is pretty much exactly how I want to see the Arnold trilogy end. An aging Conan, manning the wall and refusing to give in, inspiring the younger warriors. Moving slower than he used to, trying to hide his frailties in front of the men. I can't think of a better send-off for Schwarzenegger's version of the character.

That said, I don't want them to do a straight of adaptation of Legend. Conan and Druss are different characters, and Druss' dialogue doesn't belong in Conan's mouth. But I would like them to take inspiration from it, the way Lucas took inspiration from Kurosawa films and Flash Gordon serials.

[KiramidHead]

I'm tentatively excited by this update. There's still plenty of time for things to go wrong, but I can't help but be a bit giddy about a new Arnold Conan movie.

[Jason Aiken]

I'm excited for this, but will not count on it happening. I do relish the image of an older Conan going out on the shield, but it would have to be done properly.

[wormoftheearth]

I'm having the same conversation over on the Gemmell Fans FB page. I thought this point was worth sharing here:

And I think that's just it. Movie-Conan is already a little closer in spirit to Druss than to Howard's original vision. The monologue before the Battle of the Mounds sounds more like a Gemmell character's speech than something the "real" Conan would say. If the filmmakers have been going that way with the character since the beginning, then I'd like to see them end it on a similar note rather than ham-fistedly cramming Arnold's interpretation into one of Howard's stories.

I think a "Phoenix on the Sword" or "Scarlet Citadel" movie would be a misstep, and I hope the filmmakers behind this aren't going decide to be faithful to Howard's works all of a sudden. That ship sailed a long time ago, and Arnold's version of the character simply wouldn't fit. Howard's battles are raw and elemental, like the fight with the would-be assassins in the throne room. Movie-Conan doesn't have the animal fury for it. He's written as too much of a stoic warrior.  

But I could see Movie-Conan as an aged swordsman on the battlements, knowing damned well he's about to die, and determined to go out on his feet. Time will tell. But that's definitely the film I'd pay to see. 

[paulmc]

The name does make one wonder if they are attempting to adapt HOUR OF THE DRAGON, though. Two problems with that -

1.) Arnie Conan is not REH Conan.

2.) Kull the Conqueror was already a loose attempt at using the source material and that might frighten off producers.

That said, an attempt at HOUR OF THE DRAGON might still work.

As for Druss and LEGEND - LEGEND itself was based on the Alamo or any "siege to the last man" story, so if that is what they are going for, that doesn't necessarily make it a LEGEND adaptation.

But yes, the Arnie Conan would fit a last stand movie better than a REH adaptation.

[johnnypt]

My idea for a King Conan film would've been basically to take all three stories and mash them up: start with the assassination attempt, then do HotD with whatever parts of Scarlet Citadel the filmmakers find usable (Satha would be a must, Pelias a maybe). This probably wouldn't have worked for Arnold but at this point I would mind the attempt. However, as I mentioned elsewhere, I don't think any of this will actually happen until I see a director named and shooting begun.

[almuric]

I just wish they'd get it over with already. Arnie's not getting any younger, and his box office power is pretty much exhausted. Since the failure of Nispel's Conan means we apparently can't do anything new, they should just do this and be done with it. But I do have to wonder if franchise-obsessed Hollywood is going to want to do a film with a series character that can't really have sequels because the star is too old? Could that be what's holding this project up year after year?

[BlackHeart]

Jan 27, 2016 11:07:17 GMT -5 johnnypt said:

My idea for a King Conan film would've been basically to take all three stories and mash them up: start with the assassination attempt, then do HotD with whatever parts of Scarlet Citadel the filmmakers find usable (Satha would be a must, Pelias a maybe). This probably wouldn't have worked for Arnold but at this point I would mind the attempt. However, as I mentioned elsewhere, I don't think any of this will actually happen until I see a director named and shooting begun.

 Did Pogue didnt already tried that in his version of "Conan the Conqueror" by which it was recorded, "the masterpiece" Kull the Conqueror?  His idea was not bad (so far the scenario closest to Reh) but we know how that turned out. Anyway, I would hire Roy Thomas as advisors or co writer. The man is one of the few who have done well Conan (which can not be said for many, unfortunately). I believe that the result would be a movie with a good story and worth watching. Of course, if it is done with greater "depth" than traditional comic story.

 They must put a "memory" how Conan usurped the throne of Aquilonia that permeated through Arnie thought, let's say, at the beginning of the movie ... Must explain how he came to the crown and illuminate that part of his career. I wonder how they plan to do that. Thirty years he was not there and suddenly poof !!! Jump from youth to late days. What was he doing for that time? What is your opinion on the issue of filling these gaps?

[ironhand]

When, O when will it occur to somebody to be inspired by REH's original Conan?

[BlackHeart]

Apparently, the script is inspired by "Scarlet Citadel":

www.idigitaltimes.com/conan-conqueror-sits-arnold-throne-barbarian-sequel-inspired-scarlet-citadel-507674

[johnnypt]

Feb 1, 2016 18:23:56 GMT -5 BlackHeart said:

Apparently, the script is inspired by "Scarlet Citadel":

www.idigitaltimes.com/conan-conqueror-sits-arnold-throne-barbarian-sequel-inspired-scarlet-citadel-507674

  I think the author of the article was just speculating what it sounded like to him.  Unfortunately we've done the same thing on various projects and usually ended up wrong.  When I see a direct quote from the scriptwriter, THEN I'll get excited!

[almuric]

The fools! Don't they know that basing a movie about an REH character on an actual REH story is forbidden by the Gods of Hollywood?

[KiramidHead]

And even Pogue's supposed adaptation of Hour of the Dragon was kind of crap. I really hope this movie doesn't end up the subject of one of my podcast episodes in a few years.

[BlackHeart]

I didnt say that Pogue's script was much good, but it was based on the King Conan stories. However, Chuck didnt do a fathful adaptation, he used elements of the yarns and created his version. I hope that this will be a good story. We cant expect pure Robert E. Howard Conan instead of Millius's version but if this movie does well, then this maybe could created more interest in REH and lead us to a more faithfull adaptation. And as I said before, im sick of Tolkien and co. and I wish to see real Kull of Atlantis, Conan, Bran MacMorn and others on the screen in the next few years. It would be a dream come true. 

[Jason Aiken]

Whatever they do, I hope this movie is a hit. You see all kinds of groups who own popular IPs wanting to duplicate the success of Marvel, but they don't realize...Marvel had a big hit right out of the gate with Iron Man that opened a lot of doors for them.

The Robert E. Howard portfolio isn't off to a good start in the modern era with Conan: The Barbarian bombing, and Solomon Kane not getting a wide release.

Doing a King Conan movie starring Arnold probably isn't the smartest move (I mean, we're excited about it, but we're the target audience.) Is there a big mainstream audience salivating over this? From what we've seen of Arnold's latest films, he can't draw anymore and he certainly won't if the King Conan movie is rated R. And if it isn't rated R, then it's not worth doing. So that's kind of a bad situation to be in.

Blackheart you mentioned being sick of the Tolkieneaque fantasy. I think that's something they should run with. Keep the budget lean and dirty. They don't need to spend a whole lot of money on special effects. I'd be fine with humans vs humans for the most part. That might allow them to turn a profit on an R Rated sequel/vehicle for an aged star.