Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1982 Conan the Barbarian is finally getting a follow-up and, from the sounds of it, the new pic, titled The Legend of Conan, is even more of a direct sequel than previously thought. Taking place 30 years after the original, the film will bring back “at least three” characters from the first film, according to writer/producer Chris Morgan.
Schwarzenegger is of course reprising the role of Conan, but who are the other two characters? The smart money is on Gerry Lopez’s archer Subotai for one of the returning players, but it’s really anyone’s guess at this point.
Speaking with TheArnoldFans.com, a Schwarzenegger fan site, Morgan spilled new details on Legend of Conan, including that “our tone is a logical extension of the character established in the ’82 film…but 30 years later.” That likely means Conan will still be up to his heroic barbarian tricks, though with less youthful gusto.
“When we meet him again, Conan has been many things over the course of his life — a thief, a warrior, a pirate, a king, a legend — and is now an older man,” Morgan said. “Think Unforgiven…with a sword-wielding barbarian.”
That’s certainly an interesting approach to the character, especially because Schwarzenegger’s characters are more known for crushing heads than using their own. It sounds like The Legend of Conan will find the character in more mellow straits, but it remains to be seen how the producers would turn that new identity for the character into another trilogy, as is currently believed to be the plan.
The Legend of Conan does not yet have an official release date, but we’ll keep you posted when we hear more.
