"King Conan" Project Development

Arnold Schwarzenegger is confirmed to return for "King Conan," a new "Conan the Barbarian" film under development at 20th Century Studios. Christopher McQuarrie, known for his work on the "Mission: Impossible" franchise, is attached to write and direct the movie.

Schwarzenegger shared details about the project during an appearance at the Arnold Sports Festival.

He stated that the story would depict Conan after forty years as king, subsequently being forced out of his kingdom. The plot will involve conflict, his return, and elements such as "madness, violence, magic, and creatures."

Conan Franchise Background and Legacy

The character of Conan the Barbarian was created by Robert E. Howard and first appeared in "Weird Tales" magazine during the 1930s. Conan is characterized as a wandering warrior engaged in battles, political schemes, and supernatural encounters in the fictional Hyborian Age.

Previous Film Adaptations

Previous film adaptations starring Arnold Schwarzenegger include:

• Conan the Barbarian (1982): The film grossed over $68 million worldwide and achieved cult classic status.
• Conan the Destroyer (1984): A sequel to the 1982 film.

A planned third film, "Conan the Conqueror," did not materialize in the late 1980s. A franchise reboot in 2011, starring Jason Momoa, generated over $63 million worldwide but did not lead to further installments.

Key Personnel Involved

Arnold Schwarzenegger's recent work includes the Netflix series "Fubar" and the upcoming Amazon MGM film "The Man with the Bag." He is represented by UTA, Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, and Lavely & Singer.

Christopher McQuarrie's recent projects include "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning," which accumulated nearly $600 million globally. He is represented by Greenberg Glusker.