Rumours Abound Around New Conan Movie
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Big budgets, Big expectation, but no Big Barbarian yet.
The rumour mill is grinding about the proposed 2010 remake of the sword and sorcery classic Conan the Barbarian.
Not much is known about the film at this point in time except Lionsgate have given it the green light and are expected to approve a $100 million budget.
In line with the new Batman and James Bond franchises, the new Conan project is going to be dark, gritty and true to the source. There will be no cheesy one-liners in this film – it’s going to be bloody and violent.
Red Dragon and Rush Hour director Brett Ratner is already on board to helm the project which is good news if you’re a fan of some of his superb work on Prison Break, let’s just hope and pray it’s not another X-Men 3.
Ultimately, the film is going to live or die on the strength of the hero. Unlike the Schwarzenegger Conan, who was brutish and dim-witted, Robert E. Howard’s original hero was a combination of talented muscle-bound fighter and quick-witted tactician.
Finding the right actor for the job is going to be a tough task for the casting crew, here are a few suggestions:
Hugh Jackman
Jackman has the prestige of playing a legendary comic book character already, and it’s no surprise that Wolverine gets his own spin-off movie, because Jackman was the best thing about X-Men.
He’s got the look and the experience in the genre to pull it off, whilst displaying the intellect to show the thinking side of the hero.
Russell Crowe
Everyone is still waiting for Russell Crowe to emulate the magic of Gladiator which he has never been able to recapture on film since.
Gladiator will be difficult to top, but Conan could be the vehicle for Crowe, who can deliver on the realism of a wandering mercenary.
Daniel Craig
There were more than a few “boo hiss” chants when Daniel Craig was selected to play the next James Bond. Then again, the Bond franchise needed something new to rejuvenate it, and Craig fit the bill perfectly.
Daniel Craig’s Bond was much closer to Ian Fleming’s anti-hero. He was cold, calculating, merciless, but not without a twinkle of humanity, all the characteristics a credible Conan will need.
Gerard Butler
Relatively unknown in some blink-and-you’ll-miss-it performances in movies like Die Another Day and Tomb Raider 2, Butler really came to prominence in Frank Miller’s 300 as King Leonidas.
The Scot had to do some serious bulking up for the part of the Spartan King and is certainly no stranger to action and stunt work.
The Rock
Whilst the above four clearly have credible acting talent, they lack some of the sheer brawn required to portray a hulking giant unless serious CGI is going to be used.
Whilst admittedly, The Rock is no Anthony Hopkins, he can play a decent hero, and can definitely carry the violent action scenes which will be the centrepieces of the film.
And a couple of no hopers…
Here are a few actors who shouldn’t be expecting a call anytime soon.
Danny DeVito as Conan the Midget
Great actor, no stature. If only Conan was a dwarf and not a barbarian.
Woody Allen as Conan the Bumblebarian
Unless his fighting style was incessant rambling, Allen would struggle to overcome the hordes of foes set against him.
Ray Winstone as Conan the Geezer
This may have worked in Beowulf, but minus the impressive CGI, the London actor isn’t quite what the studios are looking for.
Anyone else think they were talking about Conan O’Brien’s impending move to The Tonight Show?
Sorry to correct you, but Brett Ratner is NOT on board to head the project. Its only rumors and nothing more.
Neither Paradox, nor Ratner himself have confirmed that he will be the Director and right now it seems he has too many projects on his hands to direct Conan.
Cheers,
Waldgeist – www.conanthemovie.com
Thank GOD Brett Ratner is not on board!!
Not one of your possible candidates is even remotely qualified to play Conan. Remember he is a barbarian, a huge brute. Unless one of those actors can pack on 80 pounds of muscle… and The Rock is not a good actor.
Did you read the text that went along with those photos?
First off, Conan is not supposed to be a brute, he’s muscle-bound but also lithe.
In Howard’s original Conan is big, but he doesn’t have to be the size of a house.
So any of the actors mentioned would be appropriate as they are all have well-defined physiques.
Second, at no point in the article do “The Rock” and “good actor” appear in the same sentence. In fact it explicitly says he’s no thesp – see Anthony Hopkins reference.
The point is The Rock CAN do action well as he’s had years of stunt training, everyone agrees he’s not the greatest of actors.
Perhaps you’d also like to make a comment about how inappropriate Danny DeVito is for the part of Conan?
Or did you manage to realise that his inclusion was satirical?
You just got owned and I agree with everything said above… though if only Mickey Rourke was 15 years younger.
The Hollywood Reporter says that producer Neal H Moritz is in negotiations with Columbia to remake Total Recall.
These are some of the dumbest suggestions for Conan that I could imagine.
I think “The Rock” would fit the bill well. He’s got the muscle for a believable Conan and with a good script / director, some decent acting too.
Scorpion King = BIG FAIL.
Anyone who has seen ‘Rome’ knows Titus Pullo actor Ray Stevenson is the man for the job.
Any thought about Vin Diesel as a possibility?
Vin Diesel and the Rock are cool guys but not good choices to play Conan. For starters Conan comes from a race of people called “Cimmerians” who were based on the ancient “Gauls” or “Celts” of ancient Europe. This would already make the movie unbelievable.
It’ll be an unknown. Which is better than The Rock getting the part. Liked your reply to comment above. Made me laugh.
It’s between Andrew McLaren and Roland Kickinger.
I just read that Andrew McLaren was officially cast as Conan and that there is going to be an official press release about it after Thanksgiving.
Hopefully we’ll get a confirmation soon from Nispel.
I read the same.
Just read that Andrew McLaren was officially cast as Conan and that there is going to be an official press release about it after Thanksgiving.
Jajaja… If military skills are more important than acting, I rather not see Nispel’s Conan.
Only a known actor would save this movie.
I think most of the actors/athletes that come to mind for most people would be cliche and kind of hack for the role of Conan.
Casting for this role is going to be very difficult. Personally I would rather see a continuation of the series with an aged Conan as king but has to fight to keep his country.
I like this idea, but if you are going to do a film version of an ageing warrior fighting to save his country, why doesn’t Hollywood make a film of Druss the Legend? That would be epic.
Yea, The Rock, or Triple H! I’m game!
None of those actors qualify to portray Conan.
Apparently, Jason Momoa of Stargate Atlantis fame (?!) has been cast as Conan.
Mickey Rourke is in negotiations to play Conan’s father.
Roland Kickinger. I don’t care if he can act or not. I don’t care if it was a rumor a year or two ago. I’d like to see him.