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

[mindboggled]

I have nothing against Arnold, but I'm tired of movies called Conan that are vaguely inspired by Howard's stories.

[thulsadoom]

I think it's a perfectly viable idea. Maybe Arnie's enthusiasm for this project can actually make it happen.

The disappointment I felt over what happened with Amazon plunged me into a black pit of despair, and this may be the only thing that can elevate my mood.

[kemp]

Actors can always reprise roles they played decades ago. Takes some tweaking though. Harrison Ford was 72 in The Force Awakens and he ( kinda ) pulled it off, but it will be awhile until when and if a new Conan movie goes into production. Arnie is 71 now. Hate to say it, but the clock is ticking. I think that ship has almost sailed. 




'No Kemp, give me a chance, I can do it'. 

[Peter]

Feb 12, 2019 17:37:15 GMT -5 mindboggled said:

I have nothing against Arnold, but I'm tired of movies called Conan that are vaguely inspired by Howard's stories.

No disrespect to those who would love to see Arnold reprise the role, but yes I am in total agreement with your statement Mindboggled.

It would be nice to see the next incarnation of Conan on the big or small screen to get it closer to Howard's Conan.

[terryallenuk]

I agree , I'll only be interested in Howard's Conan too. If this happened with Arnie it'll put the clock even further back for what we wish for and I'm getting too damn old for that LOL

[thulsadoom]

I do agree, but I just don't think we are ever going to get Howard's Conan in any TV show or movie.

It seems to me now that the community of Howard-Conan fans is extremely dedicated, but very small. I think the film with Momoa was probably the last shot at it, and I don't believe the Amazon project really ever had a chance. I'd love to be proved wrong.

I would settle for old Arnie playing old King Conan, I guess.

[Aryeh]

I would rather have a Conan film now then wait for a 'Howard's Conan stories translated to film' which is something that is impossible and will therefore never happen. The same way Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes stories don't work when stretched to feature film length (and not even 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' which is longer never really worked as a movie), because of which the best Sherlock Holmes movie is 'Murder by Decree' which is not based on Conan Doyle, the same way Howard's stories cannot work if they are simply stretched and translated to the screen. One needs to include some elements from them while leaving out or replacing other elements; one cannot have three movies about king Conan threatened on the throne, so one has to merge and then leave out some elements of 'HotD', 'SC' and 'PhotS', while introducing some new story-lines which will cover the absence of characterization (which was not necessary in short stories). One cannot stay true to Howard because his Conan is still superstitious in some stories even when he is old and is a king, but in some stories which happen before he became a king, he is no longer superstitious and knows that all that appears can be wounded and killed--one excludes another. One cannot have two films in which princesses go out on the street to meet their savior; two girls in two different films escaping across the water; two islands with supernatural occurrences, etc. One cannot have both the Heart of Ahriman and the meteor dagger hidden beneath the city (doesn't matter they are different cities). And these are just the most obvious examples. The best one can do is repeat some of it, while creating an original structure into which those elements can fit. The way Milius did successfully. Milius wrote the script for the sequel, Milius has a talented daughter who is a filmmaker, Coppola said he would be willing to produce the new Conan film, Schwarzenegger says he wants to do it--I would have no problem if all of them were brought together tomorrow so they can create together a new Conan movie that will be out next year.

[Peter]

I can understand what you guys are saying Thulsadoom and Aryeh, after all a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, a movie being watched is better than nothing and Arnold reprising the role of Conan would create a lot of interest.
I also agree that if Conan's stories are to be told more closer to Howard's, then it would need to be told in a TV series, but I would rather the effort to be put into a television show than a movie.
Perhaps if there were two interested parties prepared to finance both a movie and a television show, then that would be great as each medium would promote the other.

I did enjoy Arnold's Conan movie (except for the growing up a slave bit) and re-watch it regularly, but after seeing the quality of some TV series that are being produced of late, I would like to wait and see what is being tossed around regards the TV scripts that were proposed for Amazon. Of course this may all lead to nothing, but the thought that there maybe a chance of Conan tales being interwoven through a TV series has me all giddy.

[kemp]

Probably says a lot about the desperate state of things when so many people want an over 70 year old actor to portray Conan. Of course, Arnie might still be able to pull it off at this stage, maybe. Of course, if people are still wanting Arnie in the role five years from now we would have entered the realms of ridiculousness. 

[johnnypt]

Feb 13, 2019 23:20:06 GMT -5 Aryeh said:

I would rather have a Conan film now then wait for a 'Howard's Conan stories translated to film' which is something that is impossible and will therefore never happen. The same way Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes stories don't work when stretched to feature film length (and not even 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' which is longer never really worked as a movie), because of which the best Sherlock Holmes movie is 'Murder by Decree' which is not based on Conan Doyle, the same way Howard's stories cannot work if they are simply stretched and translated to the screen. One needs to include some elements from them while leaving out or replacing other elements; one cannot have three movies about king Conan threatened on the throne, so one has to merge and then leave out some elements of 'HotD', 'SC' and 'PhotS', while introducing some new story-lines which will cover the absence of characterization (which was not necessary in short stories). One cannot stay true to Howard because his Conan is still superstitious in some stories even when he is old and is a king, but in some stories which happen before he became a king, he is no longer superstitious and knows that all that appears can be wounded and killed--one excludes another. One cannot have two films in which princesses go out on the street to meet their savior; two girls in two different films escaping across the water; two islands with supernatural occurrences, etc. One cannot have both the Heart of Ahriman and the meteor dagger hidden beneath the city (doesn't matter they are different cities). And these are just the most obvious examples. The best one can do is repeat some of it, while creating an original structure into which those elements can fit. The way Milius did successfully. Milius wrote the script for the sequel, Milius has a talented daughter who is a filmmaker, Coppola said he would be willing to produce the new Conan film, Schwarzenegger says he wants to do it--I would have no problem if all of them were brought together tomorrow so they can create together a new Conan movie that will be out next year.

A King Conan film could mash up all three stories and make a great film out of it: use Hour as the main base, open the film with the attack on the king from Phoenix to establish the danger he's constantly in, and intersperse pieces from SC as needed, especially Satha.  I'd be perfectly fine with something like this.  Wasn't thrilled with what I'd read of Crown of Iron though (sad to say since I'm a fan of Milius' work in general), it'd have to something more along the lines of this for me to get excited. 

It's one thing if all the stories were done in a TV series, spread out by a few seasons.  The repetitive elements can be smoothed over to some extent.  Conan can even make a side remark about it: "Crom, again?!?"  But with a movie like this you get one shot at it (unless you're Fox and do Dark Phoenix again in a teenager's lifetime).  

[Deleted]

No need to worry about a Conan movie anymore - Conan will obtain the Infinity Gauntlet in the end credit scene of Avengers: Endgame   

[Aryeh]

If Schwarzenegger really wants to do it and (although the clock is ticking) since he is still able to do it, I think he should ditch the whole Gemmell's 'Legend' concept, that is, he should ditch the whole 'Unforgiven' idea, because, the way I see it, Conan should not be like Eastwood's character in that film, i.e. Conan should not be raising pigs and brats nor anything similar, and first and foremost, no one should be questioning his abilities, no matter how old he is (he should not be falling off his horse etc. nor having to prove himself to younglings in any other way). If I was asked to pitch an idea for a new Conan movie with Schwarzenegger, I would opt for an epic fantasy version of 'THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS' instead of a version of 'Unforgiven'. I would have king Conan captured and chained in dungeons, but still able to deal damage and eventually raise hell and turn everything upside down so he escapes and comes out as winner.

Namely, only three characters in film history were represented as if they are so dangerous that they have to be all chained up and tied up: King Kong, Hannibal Lecter and Conan the barbarian in the first film. Considering Schwarzenegger's age, I would include someone he can mentor from his dungeon cell, again, same as Hannibal Lecter and Starling relationship. By doing all this, one could keep the character's mystery, the monumental atmosphere around him, and Milius' mythos regarding Crom, discipline, etc. I would have Conan there as an old wolf, captured, lurking in the corners of the dungeon, and eventually becoming able to triumph in spite of the situation--same thing he was able to do in the first film, when he was chained to the wheel of pain. Only this time, it should look like it was his intention to be chained, because he no longer fears those things and situations and knows sooner or later he will jump from shadows when others least expect it, and become Conan the conqueror (although others mistakenly thought he was the one who was conquered).

I can already envision a scene where Conan say angrily to his protégé, who is also a barbarian and captured: "So, what are you doing here?" And she answers "What are YOU doing here?!" and he doesn't answer but instead gives a cunning smile.

[kemp]

As long as Conan is not having his enemies for dinner....literally. 

Sorry Aryeh. 

[thedarkman]

I gotta say that Arnold in a new Conan film of any kind is so past it’s due date that it’s become a little sad. He’s just too old, and his recent track record of film failures inspires no faith with potential investors. At the end of the day, the movie has to be profitable or reasonably successful. Arnold simply cannot pull it off. Any future Conan production has got to start fresh with an all-new star or potential star. The expiration date of Conan with Arnold as the lead has long since passed. 10 years ago, maybe. But I just can’t believe it will happen now. But then again I’m not a Hollywood executive, so who knows. I for one hope not...

[Aryeh]

I read not just on forums but also in magazines how "Arnold is too old" since he started making movies again (since 2012). And yet, I believe one can objectively claim Arnold is really good in at least five films he made recently; those are: "Escape Plan", "Maggie", "Terminator Genisys", "Aftermath" and "Killing Gunther". Just notice the powerful darkness that shines through him in "Maggie" and "Aftermath"; then, his readiness in "Terminator Genisys"; his liveliness in "Killing Gunther"; his really good acting in dramatic scenes in "Escape Plan". I don't think James Cameron is a fool for making "Terminator 6" this year again with Arnold. One can take all the elements of Arnold's performance I named here, combine them with epic sets and scenery, good lighting, professional make-up, camouflage paint in some scenes, blood and mud in other, and one gets what it takes for an old Conan who is larger then life. ...Brando was "too old", "too fat" and what not when he arrived on the "Apocalypse Now" set, but look what they made out of it: his col. Kurtz is now out there with the most memorable cinematic creations ever! By looking all these elements I named and imagining them in one role, I can see how they can make new Conan with Arnold which can be just as memorable.