Over the weekend, Arnold Schwarzenegger confirmed at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, that King Conan is in development at 20th Century Studios, with Christopher McQuarrie attached to write and direct.
The project would see the 78-year-old actor reprise the role from the 1982 Conan the Barbarian (which earned about $68.9 million worldwide on a reported $20 million budget, according to Box Office Mojo) and its 1984 sequel, continuing the original storyline rather than the 2011 reboot.
This announcement marks a shift for a franchise that has remained largely dormant since the 1980s, effectively bypassing decades of remake attempts to return to the original continuity. By reuniting the actor with the world created by Robert E. Howard, the studio is moving toward a blend of modern filmmaking and the enduring appeal of a character that helped establish Schwarzenegger as a leading action star before he took on The Terminator in 1984.
Schwarzenegger described Conan ruling as king for 40 years, growing complacent, being forced from his kingdom, and fighting his way back through conflict, violence, magic, and creatures.
He stated: “It’s a great story where Conan was king for 40 years, and he gets complacent, and now he gets forced out of the kingdom. Then there’s conflict, and then he somehow comes back, and then there’s all kinds of madness and violence and magic and creatures.” Schwarzenegger added: “Now, of course, you have all the special effects, and the studio system has plenty of money to make those movies really big.”
The premise centers on an older Conan facing exile and renewed conflict, shifting the narrative focus away from the young warrior origin seen in the early eighties.
A New Era for Sword and Sorcery on a Grand Scale
Christopher McQuarrie directed the four most recent Mission: Impossible films and co-wrote Top Gun: Maverick. This would be his first directing project outside the Mission: Impossible franchise since Jack Reacher (2012). Schwarzenegger called him a “fantastic writer-director” and noted his work on Tom Cruise’s recent films while discussing the project at the festival.
The premise focuses on Conan after decades as king, dealing with complacency and loss of power. This aligns with Schwarzenegger’s current age of 78 and shifts away from the young-warrior focus of the 1982 and 1984 films. Instead of finding a younger replacement, the production is using an actor who has lived with the character for over 40 years.
Schwarzenegger’s remarks at the festival indicate the film will address the reality of a hero confronting his own legacy, focusing on a man who has already known power rather than one seeking it.
Reconnecting the Timeline After Forty Years Away
Schwarzenegger last played Conan in Conan the Destroyer (1984). The 2011 Conan the Barbarian starred Jason Momoa in an unrelated version, not connected to the Schwarzenegger storyline. Earlier revival attempts, including the long-discussed The Legend of Conan, did not advance to production.
Reports from Variety and The Hollywood Reporter confirm King Conan is in early development at 20th Century Studios as a continuation of the original films. Schwarzenegger’s involvement is widely reported, though contract details are not public.
The path to this announcement involved years of speculation about whether or how the actor would ever return as the Cimmerian warrior. By confirming the progress of King Conan during his Columbus remarks, Schwarzenegger has provided a concrete update on the franchise’s status.
The involvement of 20th Century Studios provides a production home for the film as it moves through the early stages of development. While historical notes often mention various previous rights holders, the current focus is centered on this specific theatrical development.
What We Are Still Waiting to Discover
The project is in early development at 20th Century Studios. No production budget, additional cast, filming start date, or release window has been announced to the public. McQuarrie is confirmed to write and direct, but many production specifics remain pending. Reports note that the project is still described as being in the works, with many logistics yet to be finalized. These missing pieces are typical for a film in this stage of development, where the creative foundation is set but the operational timeline is still being organized.
The premise, an aging king confronting exile and renewed conflict, provides a continuation that accounts for the time since the original films. By telling the story of a ruler who grew comfortable and must now reclaim his world, the film offers a conclusion to a journey that began over four decades ago.
This choice provides a reason for the revival that moves beyond simple nostalgia, focusing instead on the evolution of a character from a barbarian to a king. The return of Conan is grounded in a story about the weight of power and the cost of losing it.
