Since the Conan the Barbarian reboot failed a few years ago, producers have decided to go back to the original ‘80s films to make a direct sequel. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who played the title role, is even set to return.
Producer/co-writer Chris Morgan told the Schwarzenegger fansite The Arnold Fans on Monday that the new film will follow in the world established by the original 1982 film. The new film, titled The Legend of Conan, will be a “logical extension of the character established in the ‘82 film... but 30 years later,” Morgan said.
“Our marching orders from the studio were to create a film worthy as a successor to the 1982 film, which was pretty brutal,” Morgan further explained. “To Conan it’s not about fancy sword moves; it’s about the fastest and most effective way of disposing of your enemy. A dance of death, maybe, at least primal. In my opinion, Conan is beloved because of his political incorrectness. He doesn’t think, he just acts. People can relate to the freshness of somebody who doesn’t give a damn about civilization — in fact, despises it. At the same time he is a magnificent fighter, leader and friend.”
Schwarzenegger also sent a statement to The Arnold Fans, confirming that he is set to return to the series. He just finished work on Terminator Genisys, which hits theaters on July 1.
The Conan movie franchise started in 1982 with John Milius’ Conan the Barbarian and continued in 1984 with Richard Fleischer’s Conan The Destroyer. Lionsgate tried to bring back Robert E. Howard’s character back to the big screen in 2011 with Conan the Barbarian, but the film flopped, making just $48 million worldwide.