Four decades after he first wielded the Atlantean sword, Arnold Schwarzenegger is preparing to reclaim his throne, per movieweb.com. The Hollywood legend has officially confirmed his return to the Hyborian Age in the long-awaited sequel, “King Conan”. Now 78, the former Mr. Olympia is reportedly undertaking a physical regime that has insiders both awestruck and anxious.
The project marks a significant reunion between the “Austrian Oak” and the franchise that launched his career in 1982. This time, the cinematic veteran is joined by heavyweight talent behind the scenes. Christopher McQuarrie, the filmmaker behind Top Gun: Maverick and the Mission: Impossible finale, is set to helm the production. The story picks up with an elder Conan who has reigned as king for 40 years, only to be cast out of his kingdom. Schwarzenegger has teased a narrative rich with “madness, violence, magic and creatures” as the deposed ruler fights to regain his crown.
Despite a history of hip replacements and heart surgery, Schwarzenegger is said to be hitting the gym with “renewed effort.” While modern CGI will be deployed to polish the aesthetic of the legendary barbarian, the actor is determined to put as much of his real physique on display as possible. His goal is simple: to avoid a “substandard sequel” and honour the legacy of the Robert E. Howard character.
The “King Conan” announcement appears to be just the beginning of a nostalgia-fuelled revival for the star. Schwarzenegger has hinted that sequels to Commando and a return to the Predator universe may also be in development. For fans of 1980s action cinema, the return of the King suggests that the era of the muscle-bound epic is far from over.
