Schwarzenegger and Christopher McQuarrie team up for new Conan film

Arnold Schwarzenegger has officially confirmed that he will return to the role of Conan the Barbarian in the new film from 20th Century Studios. The director of the project is Christopher McQuarrie, known for the last four parts of Mission: Impossible. Information confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline .

King Conan Project: what is known now

20th Century Studios has given the green light to a new film about Conan under the working title King Conan, writes xrust. According to The Hollywood Reporter , Christopher McQuarrie will write the script and direct, and Arnold Schwarzenegger will again play the role that became one of the key ones at the beginning of his career.

Schwarzenegger announced the project at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, where he noted that the studio had «hired a fantastic writer and director,» a reference to McQuarrie. Later, the information was confirmed by Deadline and Yahoo Entertainment .

Who is Christopher McQuarrie

Christopher McQuarrie is one of the most sought-after directors in Hollywood. He:

• directed the last four films in the Mission: Impossible franchise ;
• is an Oscar winner for his screenplay for The Usual Suspects;
• is known for its ability to combine large-scale action and a dense plot.

It is his style, according to experts, that can take the Conan franchise to a new level.

Return of the legend: what Schwarzenegger says

78-year-old Arnold Schwarzenegger said that he had long wanted to return to the role of Conan, and the new project “will allow us to complete the hero’s story the way it should have ended.”

He emphasized that the film will tell about the elderly King Conan , who, after decades of rule, faces a new threat and is forced to take up the sword again.

Why now: expert opinion

Film critic and researcher of fantasy franchises (name changed due to editorial policy) notes:

“Schwarzenegger's return as Conan is not just nostalgia. Amid the success of major fantasy projects, studios are looking for recognizable brands, and Conan is one of the strongest. McQuarrie's participation makes the project commercially viable.»

The expert also adds that Schwarzenegger’s age is “not a hindrance, but an advantage,” since the plot of King Conan initially assumes a mature hero.

What will happen in the film: first details

Although the plot is kept secret, sources Deadline and Consequence report that the film:

• will become a direct continuation of the original paintings of 1982 and 1984;
• will tell about the aging king , forced to leave the throne;
• will retain the visual style of classic films;
• could be the beginning of a new line of projects about the world of Robert E. Howard.

When will filming begin

Official dates have not yet been announced, but sources The Hollywood Reporter indicate that the project is in active development, and the script is already in the works.

20th Century Studios has not yet commented on the timing, but insiders suggest that production could start at the end of 2026.

Briefly: the history of the franchise

• The first film «Conan the Barbarian» was released in 1982 and became a breakthrough for Schwarzenegger.
• The sequel «Conan the Destroyer» (1984) consolidated the success of the character.
• In 2011, a reboot with Jason Momoa was released, but it did not receive a sequel.
• The idea for the film King Conan has been discussed for more than 20 years, but only now the project has received real impetus.

Xrust Schwarzenegger and Christopher McQuarrie team up for new Conan movie