Arnold Schwarzenegger has hinted that in the coming years he could revisit several of his most famous film roles outside the Terminator franchise. The actor, long synonymous with big-screen action, has been talking about potential sequels and follow-up projects designed to build on past hits. Among the ideas circulating are another Commando installment and renewed discussion about whether he could appear again in the Predator universe—despite the fact that the franchise has proven it can move forward without Dutch.
Right now, however, the spotlight is firmly on his possible return to the world of Conan. The long-gestating project King Conan has been in development for years, and for a long time it looked like it might never become more than a collection of plans and unused script drafts. Lately, though, the situation appears to be shifting—and Schwarzenegger is signaling that he’s serious, including on the physical side.
Training for the Role Has Already Started
Schwarzenegger recently shared a gym photo on social media as proof that he’s beginning to prepare for a return to barbarian territory. Alongside the image, he added a brief note that he’s still training. Given that Conan has always been defined by raw physical presence, it’s clear that any comeback would require real preparation rather than a purely nostalgic cameo.
He has also emphasized that this won’t be the same hero audiences saw decades ago. The new film isn’t expected to pretend Conan is still a young warrior in his prime. Instead, the goal is to write the character in a way that matches both Conan’s age and Schwarzenegger’s current look. In his view, that doesn’t mean less action—it means a different kind of Conan: still dangerous in a fight, but carrying himself like a hardened ruler and battle-tested veteran.
A Story About an Older King Facing a New Conflict
According to Schwarzenegger, King Conan is meant to explore a period when Conan has already been king for many years. After roughly forty years on the throne, he’s pushed out of his kingdom and forced into a new conflict. That setup is designed to create room for a grand-scale return—one that still includes the expected mix of brutality, magic, monsters, and large battles.
He also pointed out that studios now have far more resources to deliver this kind of fantasy epic at the scale it deserves. Modern effects and a serious budget could make Conan’s world feel bigger and more striking than what was possible at the time of the original films—one of the reasons he says he’s excited about the idea.
A New Filmmaker Brings Fresh Hope
A major reason for the renewed optimism is the involvement of Christopher McQuarrie. Schwarzenegger said that McQuarrie—the writer-director known for high-profile collaborations with Tom Cruise—has been brought in to write and direct King Conan. His participation could be the push that finally moves the project from years of talk into an actual production path.
The new Conan is expected to be written to match the character’s age and Arnold’s own stage of life—while still delivering the power, action, and epic scale fans want.
Over the years, multiple notable names have been linked to the screenplay in one form or another, including Will Beall, Andrea Berloff, Chris Morgan, and even John Milius, who directed the original Conan the Barbarian. Despite those efforts, the film remained stuck in development. It’s still not guaranteed that McQuarrie will be the one to carry it all the way to cameras—but this is described as the most concrete progress in a long time.
Rights Issues—and the Next Step Forward
King Conan was previously associated with Universal, but current information suggests that 20th Century is now trying to move it ahead. The company reportedly spent much of the past year working to untangle and secure the rights needed to make a new feature film. These behind-the-scenes negotiations are often the very reason highly anticipated projects can sit on the shelf for years.
If the legal and production hurdles can be cleared, Schwarzenegger could finally return to one of his most iconic roles. For fantasy fans and lovers of classic action cinema, it would be a major event. And after a long wait, Conan’s comeback wouldn’t be as a young conqueror—but as an aging king who has to fight again for his place in the world.
Everything now depends on whether the long-delayed project truly becomes a shoot. Schwarzenegger, however, is making it clear: if it happens, he intends to be ready.
Sources: JoBlo, Deadline
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