Fans were recently treated to two “Experience with Arnold Schwarzenegger” events, held in Edinburgh and Birmingham in January. The events were black tie affairs where the star himself spoke with his fans.
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Among the topics of discussion was Schwarzenegger’s return to his role as Robert E. Howard’s fantasy hero Conan. He first played the role in 1982’s Conan the Barbarian.Schwarzenegger said the project is still very much in development, though he referred to the project, previously dubbed The Legend of Conan, by a different name, Conan the Conqueror.
Here’s what Schwarzenegger had to say, according to The Arnold Fans:
“Conan the Conqueror,” says Arnold, “where I’m sitting on the throne for years and years – decades, and then all of the sudden, the time comes when they want to overthrow me. So that story WILL be told and that movie WILL be done.”
“Yes,” confirms Arnold, “as a matter of fact, it (The Legend of Conan) has been written and we are now looking for directors so this is a serious drive (now for Conan).”
As the fan site notes, Conan the Conqueror was the title of the Schwarzenegger’s proposed sequel to 1987’s Conan the Destroyer.
As to Schwarzenegger’s ability to reprise such a physically demanding role at the age of 69, the star says he isn’t worried:
“One of the advantages for when you train every day,” begins Arnold, “when you bicycle everyday, when you work out every day is that age is not registering in the body the same with everyone else. Because when you stay in shape, you do turn back the clock. So I feel great and the last few movies that I’ve done, I’ve done many of my own stunts. I did all the physical stuff and it didn’t wipe me out and I have plenty of energy and feel really terrific. So I am absolutely convinced that I can do the Conan movie and do the horseback riding, the sword fights and all the fighting.”
So whether it’s The Legend of Conan or Conan the Conqueror, it sounds like Schwarzenegger still plans to return to crush Conan’s enemies, see them driven before him, and hear the lamentations of their women once more.
