Conan news has begun to kick up again. Word on the street today is that Gerard Butler may be cast as the Cimmerian, and Director John McTiernan may be on deck to direct. We get the scoop today from the WEBMASTER over at Filmjunk:
French website Mad Movies is reporting that Die Hard director John McTiernan is at the top of the list of filmmakers being considered by New Line for the next Conan flick. As we previously reported, John McTiernan is headed to prison for 4 months, but realistically, 4 months isn’t all that long. So technically it’s possible, and McTiernan seems well-suited for the project (he did direct The 13th Warrior after all). The other part of the rumour is that Gerard Butler is being considered for the role of Conan.
I can live with McTiernan as a director for Conan. I am not certain he would have been my first pic, but he is a great action director, and has experience with sword wielding warfare due to his work on 13th Warrior. I feel at peace with him at the helm, and would look forward to his work with the legendary character. If he can bring the same magic to Conan that he did to Predator I will cry in the theatre and scream for joy in the streets!
I like Gerard Butler, but I would really like to see them to use someone else as Conan. I do not want “that 300 guy” as another sword wielding hero in Conan. They have to cast someone that is huge in stature and not necessarily in name. If Butler is on board, he may do just fine and I may end up eating my words but from where I sit now; I struggle and wonder if he is the best possible choice. I guess I should be happy, they could’ve cast Orlando Bloom.
I must remind you all that this is still unconfirmed news; but if it be true - what do you think?
25 Comments, Comment or Ping
Jay
I agree with you Doug, I feel at ease knowing McTiernan, but Butler as Conan doesn’t really seem to fit.
I don’t think any actor on earth can give such a striking portrayal of Conan as Arnie did. He was fricken born for that role. I really wanted Arnie to do ‘King Conan’, before his dive in the politics instead of T3.
Dec 14th, 2007
GODFATHER
Keep Butler out of Conan! That would totally kill the mystique that is that character. They should get that huge dude from Troy that Achilies killed with the sword to the throat. That mofo is HUGE! He could probably pass for Arnold’s son too…
Dec 14th, 2007
Rafa1215
How about the Rock? He has the frame for it.
Dec 14th, 2007
Kristina
I LOVE the Butler, loved him before he broke out with 300, and I’m glad he’s getting more attention now. That being said, I don’t want him getting typecast as the sword-swinging screaming guy. He can do a lot more than that. I’m all for seeing hot guys with their shirts off, but I hope he turns this down and goes for projects that show off his acting range.
And as for The Rock Rafa1215, have you seen him lately? He’s lost a ton of weight since he stopped wrestling. He looks downright skinny compared to when he did The Scorpion King. No go.
Dec 14th, 2007
Phil Gee
When i was watching Beowulf, i kept thinking that it might be nice to make the new Conan movie using that technique because it would mean, technically, Arnie could play the part again. Seeing all the violence that they got away in Beowulf, i don’t think a PG13 Conan (which it will probably be anyway) would hurt too much.
But i’ll take Mr Butler if i have no other choice.
Dec 14th, 2007
Simon
McTiernan would rock because he would know about hard life because his time in the can. I am sure a lot of great cimmerian had a hard live like him make bad films such as Rollerball. But I don’t think that King Leonidas him self would be good to play Conan.
let’s just think about his last film before 300 it was Beowulf & Grendel. Yeah you are right Phil Gee. Till then I am going to play the new Conan video game.
Dec 14th, 2007
AjaxLou
Butler is too short.
Dec 14th, 2007
Kitsune
He is billed as being the same height (6′ 2″) as Arnold when he did Conan.
Dec 14th, 2007
Simon
Hey AjaxLou
How tall do you want your conan because we can get Shaquille O’Neal to play a black conan if you want he is 7-1.
Dec 14th, 2007
BobMac
Never mind all that, when is the next podcast?
Dec 14th, 2007
Darren J Seeley
And before 300 and Beowuf & Grendel (note: “Grendel” was simply a giant with mental problems- for this was a character study) Butler was Atilla The Hun…
But regardless - what was that story a few days back with Butler saying he wasn’t approched for Sabretooth in ‘Wolverine’? Betcha he wasn’t talked to about Conan either.
So the question is, who’s Conan?
Here’s my roster, in no order:
1) Daniel Cudmore [from the X-Men films]
2) Karl Urban ['course, then again, he was also in Pathfinder]
3) Paul Levesque
Other than that, Hell If I Know.
Dec 14th, 2007
Rafa1215
You’re right Kristina. He has to put back a lot of muscle and fat. Maybe some wrestler who’s on the juice can do the job.
Dec 14th, 2007
Kristina
@Rafa1215
HHH.
@Darren
That Attila movie was pretty shit, but he looked GOOD in it:)
Dec 14th, 2007
AjaxLou
@Simon - sounds good!
Dec 14th, 2007
Melfi
No. Leave Conan alone. Nothing made in this new century could ever do justice to the original film. I loved that there was hardly any dialog (due to Arnold’s bad English) but it worked wonders for the film and its amazing soundtrack.
If it was remade, I know it would turn into some god-awful action movie with whatever actor they choose screaming: “I AM CONAN!”
Dec 16th, 2007
Calvin
(Type your comment here. Make sure you’ve read the commenting rules before doing so)Look if Schwarzenegger Ain,t Gonna Play Conan Then Don,t Bother The Story Call,s For An Older Conan And That Is Arnie,He Does,nt Have To Be Completely Ripped Just Well Muscled I think He Can Still Pull That Off,giving this role to someone else would be like casting someone else as rocky ,it just ain,t gonna fly!
Mar 25th, 2008
Kitsune
There’s no story yet, except the ones that Howard wrote.
As long as we get a real actor in the role, I’ll be happy.
Apr 23rd, 2008
Tom
Am i crazy??? Am i the only one who thinks Arnold is the worst actor EVER???? Butler, all things aside is a very good actor. I remember after reading the Conan stories from Howard, i realized (and don’t get me wrong, i really enjoyed Conan the barbarian) Conan is a barbarian, not a moron. Bring the Butler, or at least a real actor (Ralf Muller???? Come on, man!!!!!!!)
May 7th, 2008
lance
(Type your comment here. Make sure you’ve read the commenting rules before doing so
triple hhh is the man he looks neanderthalish for the role
Jul 4th, 2008
joo carlo
gerard perfectly fit to be conan! dont even say brad pitt would do it lolz…
Jul 11th, 2008
EMPEROR
go GERARD!!
Jul 11th, 2008
SADUS
100% PERFECTLY FITTING ROLE FOR MR, BUTLER! I AGREE THAT NO OTHER CHOICE FOR AN ACTOR TO PLAY THAT ROLE EXCEPT BUTLER!!! THIS MOVIE GONNA SLASH A MONSTROUS BLOCKBUSTER HIT AS LONG AS BUTLER WILL PLAY THE ROLE…†
Jul 12th, 2008
MEGATRON
BRING BUTLER AGAIN PLEASE!
Jul 12th, 2008
ROCKERCHICK
i agree with SADUS” i cnt hardly w8 for gerry to play this role.
Jul 12th, 2008
wolverine
yeap he should get the role but he has to maintain his shape from ‘300′ the movie.
Jul 18th, 2008
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