It seems Jason Momoa’s time as Robert E Howard’s titular barbarian is definitely at an end as original star Arnold Schwarzenegger will be returning to the furs in Universal’s The Legend Of Conan, set for release in 2014.
“I always loved the Conan character and I’m honoured to be asked to step into the role once again,” said Arnie. “I can’t wait to work with Universal and the great team of [producers] Fredrik Malmberg and Chris Morgan to develop the next step of this truly epic story.”
Ignoring both the 2011 reboot and Arnie’s second movie, 1984’s Conan The Destroyer, The Legend Of Conan will be a direct sequel to 1982’s Conan The Barbarian, and will pick the the story of an older Conan at the height of his powers.
“The original ended with Arnold on the throne as a seasoned warrior, and this is the take of the film we will make,” explained producer Chris Morgan (Wanted, 47 Ronin) who wrote the basic story. “It’s that Nordic Viking mythic guy who has played the role of king, warrior, soldier and mercenary, and who has bedded more women than anyone, nearing the last cycle of his life. He knows he’ll be going to Valhalla, and wants to go out with a good battle.”
Producer Fredrik Malmberg (Let Me In) adds, “This movie picks up Conan where Arnold is now in his life, and we will be able to use the fact that he has aged in this story. I love the property of Conan so much that I wouldn’t touch it unless we came up with something worthy. We think this is a worthy successor to the original film. Think of this as Conan’s Unforgiven.”
“Will that level of violence be there?” says Morgan. “Absolutely, but only if it serves a character who lives by that barbarian law of the wild, who is capable of extreme violence and rage, but who has created his own code and operates from within it. By the end of that film, Conan became a certain character, and this film picks him up there, as he faces different challenges that include dealing with age.”
1982’s Conan The Barbarian is available on Blu-ray for £8.78 from Amazon.co.uk
