Hither Comes Conan…Again

Written by: Big Ross, CC2K Staff Writer

Source: Variety

I’ve been following rumblings across the internet about a possible resurgence of a Conan film franchise for awhile. It seems we might actually be getting closer to seeing that happen.

Nu Image/Millennium Films has inked a deal with Lionsgate for distribution rights for Robert E. Howard’s famous barbarian. Production on the film is optimistically set to begin later this year with a reported budget of $100 million.

Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer (Sahara) are tasked with writing the screenplay.

Hmmm…I’ve never seen Sahara, but that doesn’t instill me with a lot of confidence. Sahara seems like The Mummy or National Treasure, written and produced for the lowest common demoninator in order to target the widest audience possible so as to make the most money possible.

In other words, a safe, bland, all-around bad movie. And that is exactly what a Conan film shouldn’t be. Conan the Barbarian was anything but safe. It was a great movie, but I’d still like to see a depiction of the character more faithful to Howard’s vision.  Or at least a film that could redeem the disappointing Conan the Destroyer.