Update on Conan 3
Arnold Schwarzenegger recently provided an update on the potential for a third Conan the Barbarian film, expressing caution about its possibility. After gaining fame as a bodybuilder, Schwarzenegger ventured into acting and achieved widespread recognition for his portrayal of Conan in the 1982 film adaptation of Robert E. Howard's fantasy stories. Directed by John Milius, the movie not only propelled Schwarzenegger's career but also established him as a major Hollywood star. A sequel titled Conan the Destroyer followed in 1984.
Despite a 2011 remake of Conan the Barbarian featuring Jason Momoa, little progress has been made on The Legend of Conan, a highly anticipated sequel in which Schwarzenegger would reprise his iconic role. However, the project has faced significant hurdles primarily due to rights issues, complicating its production.
It’s been pending for the last 10 years. [Fredrik] Malmberg owns the rights. He comes to me and says, “Oh, I have a deal with Netflix,” and when we ask Netflix, they don’t know anything about it. It’s one of those crazy things. I hope he figures it out. I think you do it like Unforgiven, where you play the age. There’s a great script out there that John Milius wrote, and others have written one. The story is there. There are directors who want to do it. But he has the rights, and until he sells the rights for one or two movies, or for the franchise, there’s nothing you can do about it.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has envisioned Conan the Barbarian 3 as a mature warrior's tale, drawing inspiration from the film "Unforgiven." Screenwriters Chris Morgan and Will Beall have previously discussed their intentions to create a sequel that captures the essence of John Milius' original 1982 Conan film. However, the persistent issue of rights has proven to be a significant hurdle for "The Legend of Conan."
In 2017, Universal abandoned the project, but Fredrik Malmberg, the rights-holder, has remained hopeful for its realization. With Schwarzenegger's partnership with Netflix for his upcoming action-comedy show "FUBAR" and the documentary "Arnold," there is a possibility that the streaming platform could breathe new life into "The Legend of Conan."
Nevertheless, Schwarzenegger's recent remarks suggest that Malmberg is hesitant to proceed without resolving the rights matter. Until the rights situation is addressed, significant progress on the project cannot be made. While Netflix possesses the financial resources to strike a deal, it remains uncertain whether they deem Schwarzenegger's vision for Conan the Barbarian 3 worth pursuing at this particular juncture.
There are doubts about Arnold Schwarzenegger reprising his role as Conan due to his age, and time may be running out for that possibility. However, there have been discussions about the potential of Nicolas Cage taking on the role of King Conan, an idea that you have advocated for. Alternatively, if Cage isn't available, there's always the option of considering other actors, including yourself, for the role.
