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Archived: Conan 3 News
By FavaBeans | July 26, 2008
January 13, 2008: Nu Image/Millennium Films and Lionsgate have announced a deal for Lionsgate to acquire North American distribution rights to the highly coveted film series Conan the Barbarian, based on Robert E. Howard’s mythical conquering hero. The companies most recently partnered on Rambo, which Lionsgate is co-releasing (with The Weinstein Company) on January 25th. The announcement was jointly made by Danny Dimbort, Trevor Short and Avi Lerner, founders of Nu Image/Millennium Films, and Jason Constantine, Lionsgate Executive Vice President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions. Nu Image/Millennium’s Boaz Davidson and Joe Gatta are producing the film, along with Fredrick Malmberg of Paradox Entertainment, George Furla and Henry Winterstern. Executive producers include Nu Image’s Dimbort, Short and Lerner. Production is slated to take place in Bulgaria in summer/fall 2008. “We could not be happier to be back in business with Lionsgate,” said Dimbort. “They have done a phenomenal job with ‘Rambo’ and know how to release a high-profile property. ‘Conan’ is an amazing franchise and they will treat it in kind.” “We are delighted to join Nu Image/Millennium Films in bringing ‘Conan the Barbarian’ back to the big screen,” said Constantine. “This is a character unlike any other in the action/adventure canon, with an unlimited potential for stories that are exciting and different. And given the production expertise and creativity of our friends at Nu Image/Millennium, this ‘Conan’ is sure to conquer.” Commented Lerner, “Lionsgate was our choice from the beginning. Jon Feltheimer has a great crew with good instincts, a fantastic understanding of distribution and a wonderful marketing machine. They will give these films the right attention and make them a huge success.” -Thanks to ‘Superherohype’ for the heads up!
November 2, 2007: While no casting or director has been announced, a new teaser poster for Conan has been released.
July 2, 2007: Weeks after Warner Bros. lost the rights to Conan the Barbarian, New Line has moved into prime position to make a movie based on Robert E. Howard’s mythical conqueror, reports Variety. After posting a bid of mid-six against seven figures for an 18-month option with one extension, the studio entered into negotiations after CAA staged an auction for rights holder Paradox Entertainment. Reinventing Conan didn’t come easy for WB, which spent the last seven years trying for a film that veered from the testosterone-laced beefcake fests that launched Arnold Schwarzenegger to something more reverential toward Howard’s original pulp novels. Larry and Andy Wachowski, John Milius (who directed the original and wrote the script with Oliver Stone) and Robert Rodriguez took turns developing it. Rodriguez got closest but left the project for Grindhouse. Boaz Yakin was hired last year to start again. If New Line makes the deal, the studio will have to start from scratch, as Warners owns the various drafts it developed.
June 16, 2006: From JoBlo.com: “After countless years of development and constantly being batted around between The Wachowskis and Robert Rodriguez, a new CONAN THE BARBARIAN feature film is finally gaining some momentum as Warner Bros. have tapped Boaz Yakin (REMEMBER THE TITANS) to write and possibly direct an update for the famed character created by Robert E. Howard and immortalized by none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger. Who knows what exactly about Yakin’s take impressed the studio (Conan in space fighting sexy alien robots?) but it was good enough that they’re looking at an early 2007 production start likely for a summer 2008 release. The only details known about Yakin’s concept is that it’s more faithful to Howard’s books than the previous films – does that mean Arnold will be back flexing his muscles and kicking prehistoric ass? ”
May 2, 2005: ‘TheArnoldFans.com’ is reporting they have confirmed an earlier report that Sin City director Robert Rodriguez has been tapped by Warner Bros. Pictures to helm a new version of Conan. The studio is no longer going with Conan the Barbarian director John Milius for the project. Milius was developing a film titled King Conan: Crown of Iron. The site adds that if Rodriguez can get Arnold Schwarzenegger to star in the film, the project would still be “King Conan” but would have a new script. If Schwarzenegger is not available, you can expect an all new Conan. -thanks to ‘Superherohype’ for the heads up!
April 26, 2005: Conan the Barbarian director John Milius tells G4 that King Conan: Crown of Iron is not moving forward at this time: “Well, King Conan is pretty well on hold. Warner Brothers decided they’re going to do their own version of whatever they want to do with Conan. They’ve sort of put it in deep, deep freeze. I don’t know. You’ll have to talk to Warner Brothers and ask them what their wisdom is. They’ll probably do an animated, kid-friendly Conan.” -Thanks to ‘Superherohype’ for the heads up!
December 1, 2004: According to IMDB.com, actor Brian Thompson is playing Conan in the next film. Brian Thompson has been in such movies as “Mortal Kombat 2″ and “The Order”. IMDB has been known to be inaccurate at times, so we’ll keep a close eye on this one. If anything official comes our way. we’ll let you know. Thanks to ‘AZRAEL’ for sending this in.
October 12, 2004: IGN Filmforce reports that writer/director John Milius has received financing for King Conan: Crown of Iron. Milius is currently in Turkey where he has secured full funding for King Conan. If that’s the case, that would mean Warner Brothers would only have to distribute the film rather than finance it. Milius is said to be scouting locations in Turkey for filming and that Arnold Schwarzenegger may still be involved with the project. Thanks to ‘Superherohype.com’ for the news!
May 11, 2004: IGN Filmforce has followed-up on the rumors from last year that wrestler Triple H may take over from Arnold Schwarzenegger in King Conan: Crown of Iron. Confirming rumors first reported last fall, Warner Brothers and writer-director John Milius have indeed settled on wrestler-actor Paul Michael Levesque, a.k.a. Triple H, to play Robert E. Howard’s barbarian hero. It should be noted, however, that it isn’t a done deal just yet. There’s also no word on when King Conan might finally go before cameras. Triple H was previously rumored to be up for the role of Kon, Conan’s estranged son. He’ll next be seen as “Grimwood” in Blade: Trinity. Thanks to ‘Alex’ via email for sending this in!
January 21, 2004: IGN FilmForce has learned from trusted sources that Larry and Andy Wachowski have ankled King Conan: Crown of Iron, the third movie featuring Robert E. Howard’s barbarian hero. The Wachowski brothers were to have produced King Conan with John Milius onboard to write and direct it. Obviously, star Arnold Schwarzenegger is unavailable for the next few years now that he is governor of California. Sources advised IGN FilmForce that the Wachowskis – who had reportedly clashed with Milius over the tone and direction of the film – left King Conan of their own volition. The project had remained stalled in development hell while the Wachowskis completed their Matrix trilogy. Thanks to IGN FilmForce for the news!
October 10, 2003: According to ComingSoon.net, writer/director John Milius definitely plans to go forward with ‘King Conan: Crown of Iron’ without the newly-elected California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. “This could be John’s best script ever,” says a source about the Conan the Barbarian follow-up. There’s a challenging Conan role and it contains five significant female roles. Someone close to the project says there will be advantages about going with another actor. It’ll be cheaper to make, no studio interference, it’ll be possible to shoot in exotic locales for which Arnold wouldn’t get insurance from the studio, and less CGI. Thanks to Superherohype.com
July 23, 2003: Sources have advised IGN FilmForce of the current status of ‘King Conan: Crown of Iron’. The third Conan film is still based at Warner Brothers with writer/director John Milius onboard and the Wachowski brothers (The Matrix) set to produce. Milius met recently with star Arnold Schwarzenegger who reaffirmed his committment to King Conan (although he has not yet signed a contract for it). Even though The Austrian Oak is willing to make King Conan his next film, the project remains in a holding pattern over at Warner Brothers. This is because the studio apparently wants to see how the Wachowskis’ Matrix Revolutions fares (and because the Wachowskis themselves refuse to work on King Conan until they’re done with their Matrix trilogy). But what does that series really have to do with the future of Conan? It boils down to a brewing power struggle between the Arnold/Milius camp and the Wachowskis. Each faction is said to have a different vision for ‘King Conan’. Should Matrix Revolutions be deemed a box office disappointment like Matrix Reloaded then the Wachowskis would lose clout and, thus, control over the development of King Conan. Of course, the equally disappointing returns for Terminator 3 makes one wonder about Arnold’s own drawing power. Perhaps pairing him with a hotter, younger star might help King Conan succeed? Arnold is apparently eager to cast Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Conan’s estranged son, Kon. The Rock has long been rumored for that role but now Schwarzenegger himself is keen on landing the wrestler-turned-actor. As far as we know, though, the part hasn’t been formally offered to The Rock yet. Furthermore, Arnold is said to want to make King Conan because – get this – it espouses the values he holds, specifically about taking responsibility. If King Conan is finally liberated from Warner Brothers’ holding pattern then the soonest the project could film would be in early 2004 given the amount of pre-production time necessary. Thanks to IGN FilmForce for the story.
June 27, 2003: MTV reports that Natalie Portman is set to play a character in the new Conan movie. Which part is yet to be determined.
June 23, 2003: Arnold Schwarzenegger told an audience at the Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention that he will definitely be involved in the proposed sequel film King Conan: Crown of Iron. But the actor added that he is still waiting for a finished script. “I don’t think there’s any doubt about my interest in Conan,” he said. “I love the character of Conan. I think it’s one of the most wonderful characters I’ve ever played in my whole movie career.” The film is currently in development at Warner Brothers, under the supervision of The Matrix creators Larry and Andy Wachowski. Schwarzenegger said that development on the project is moving slowly due to the Wachowskis’ commitment to the release this year of the second and third films in the Matrix franchise. “Warner Brothers has the rights to Conan, and the Wachowski brothers are supposed to be in charge of it,” Schwarzenegger said. “But obviously, as you can see, they’re heavily involved in bringing out their next movie. I think as soon as they come to me and say we have a new script, and it’s ready to go to the next stage, we’ll sit down and talk about it.” Thanks to Gus vis email for the heads up!
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