Arnold Schwarzenegger says he plans to return as Conan in King Conan, a proposed follow-up to 1982’s Conan the Barbarian. TheWrap reported on March 9, 2026, that Christopher McQuarrie—the filmmaker known for the Mission: Impossible films—was attached to write and direct, with the project in early development at 20th Century Studios. Schwarzenegger later reportedly named 2027 as the year he hoped to make it. That is a production target, not a release date, and the available reports do not establish that filming has begun.
Is Arnold Schwarzenegger really returning as Conan?
That is the plan Schwarzenegger has described publicly. TheWrap reported on March 9, 2026, that he would star in King Conan, then in early development at 20th Century Studios. The report connected the news to Schwarzenegger’s remarks at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio. The sources available here do not include a studio announcement confirming production.
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Conan: The Complete Quest (Conan the Barbarian / Conan the Destroyer) [Blu-ray] | $10.89 | Buy on Amazon |
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Conan the Barbarian [Blu-ray] | $3.61 | Buy on Amazon |
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Conan the Barbarian (Two-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD) | $15.79 | Buy on Amazon |
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There is reason to distinguish an announced attachment from a finished film: earlier Conan follow-up plans also advanced publicly without establishing that a movie had been completed. TheWrap reported that The Legend of Conan was announced in 2012, with John Milius expected to return, and that writers including Will Beall, Andrea Berloff, and Chris Morgan later worked on it. That history does not determine what will happen with King Conan, but it is a reminder that development news is not the same as a production start.
Who is directing the new Conan movie?
Christopher McQuarrie is attached to write and direct, according to TheWrap’s March 9, 2026 report. McQuarrie is associated with the Mission: Impossible films; the Conan project is a separate undertaking, and the report describes it as being in early development at 20th Century Studios.
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What is King Conan about?
Schwarzenegger has described a story about an older Conan who has ruled for 40 years, is forced out of his kingdom, and eventually returns amid conflict. Speaking at the Arnold Sports Festival, he told Variety: “With ‘King Conan,’ it’s a great old story that Conan was 40 years as king and now he gets forced out of the kingdom and there’s conflict, of course, but somehow he comes back and there’s all kinds of madness, violence, magic and creatures and stuff like that.”
This is Schwarzenegger’s account of the premise, not a confirmed final screenplay synopsis. He also addressed how the role would suit his age, telling TheWrap during on-stage remarks: “You write it age-appropriate. I’m still going to go in there and kick some ass, but it will be a bit different.”
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When will King Conan start filming?
In coverage published May 18, 2026, ComingSoon attributed this statement to Schwarzenegger: “Next year we are going to do King Conan. So that is a reality now and I am excited about it.” The outlet interpreted “next year” as a 2027 production target. It should be read as a reported plan, not confirmation that cameras are rolling or that the film will be released in 2027.
The reports reviewed here do not establish a release date, a completed screenplay, a final cast beyond Schwarzenegger’s reported return, or that production has started. ComingSoon said no additional casting details had been announced at the time of its May report.
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Rank #3
- A quest that begins as a personal vendetta for the fierce Cimmerian warrior soon turns into an epic battle against hulking rivals, horrific monsters, and impossible odds, as Conan realizes he is the only hope of saving the great nations of Hyboria from an encroaching reign of supernatural evil.
How does the proposed film relate to earlier Conan movies?
The point of reference is the 1982 Conan the Barbarian, starring Schwarzenegger and adapted from Robert E. Howard’s fiction. Howard’s character first appeared in 1932 in Weird Tales, according to TheWrap. The Guardian describes the 1982 film as an adaptation of Howard and a breakout for Schwarzenegger as a movie star; it reported the film grossed $68 million.
Other screen entries include the 1984 sequel Conan the Destroyer and the 2011 film led by Jason Momoa. The reporting on the proposed King Conan does not settle its final continuity or establish any returning cast beyond Schwarzenegger. It also does not identify a particular Conan comic as the film’s source. The character and the title King Conan have appeared in literature and comics, but that background alone is not evidence of a direct adaptation.
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Rank #4
- A quest that begins as a personal vendetta for the fierce Cimmerian warrior soon turns into an epic battle against hulking rivals, horrific monsters, and impossible odds, as Conan realizes he is the only hope of saving the great nations of Hyboria from an encroaching reign of supernatural evil.
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