Schwarzenegger to Reprise Role in King Conan Film

Arnold Schwarzenegger announced over the weekend at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, that he will reprise his iconic role as the barbarian warrior in a new film titled King Conan, with acclaimed filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie attached to write and direct the project for 20th Century Studios.

The announcement marks a significant step toward reviving the Conan franchise, which launched Schwarzenegger's Hollywood career with the 1982 film Conan the Barbarian. That movie, directed by John Milius and adapted from stories by pulp author Robert E. Howard first published in 1932, grossed about $70 million worldwide. A sequel, Conan the Destroyer, followed in 1984 but earned roughly $31 million and received mixed reviews. The character, a sword-wielding hero from the fictional Hyborian Age, has appeared in magazines, books, and comics since its debut but has struggled to sustain cinematic success in recent decades.

King Conan, positioned as the third installment in the series, picks up years after the original story. Schwarzenegger, now 78, described the plot during his onstage remarks at the festival. "With King Conan, it's a great story," he said. "He's been the king for...