Arnold Schwarzenegger has confirmed that the long-awaited return of Conan the Barbarian is finally happening, with filming for the sequel expected to begin in 2027.
The Hollywood veteran revealed that the upcoming project, titled King Conan, is officially moving ahead after spending years in development discussions.
Schwarzenegger said the project has now become a reality and added that he is excited to revisit one of the most iconic characters of his career.
Schwarzenegger pushed for sequel for nearly a decade
The actor first portrayed Conan in the 1982 cult classic Conan the Barbarian before returning in Conan the Destroyer.
According to Schwarzenegger, he has spent almost ten years advocating for a proper continuation of the franchise.
He explained that he wanted the sequel to stay faithful to the world created by author Robert E. Howard while also drawing inspiration from the artwork of legendary fantasy illustrator Frank Frazetta.
Schwarzenegger also expressed hope that original Conan director John Milius would return to the project in a producer role.
Christopher McQuarrie to direct King Conan
Filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie has been confirmed as the writer and director of the sequel.
McQuarrie is best known for helming several recent instalments of the Mission: Impossible series.
Discussing the story, Schwarzenegger revealed that the film will explore an older version of Conan who is no longer at the peak of his powers.
He described the character as a king who has become somewhat complacent while enemies begin attempting to take him down.
Film compared to Unforgiven
Schwarzenegger compared the tone of King Conan to Unforgiven, the acclaimed Clint Eastwood film about an ageing gunslinger confronting his past.
However, he added that the Conan sequel would feature large scale battles and epic action sequences alongside the darker, reflective themes.
More franchise returns teased
The actor also hinted that he could potentially revisit several of his other iconic franchises in the future.
Schwarzenegger revealed that studios have already approached him with scripts connected to franchises such as Predator and Commando.
