Rodriguez (Sin City) Developing Conan?

[Desdichado]

I think this is referred to as "Skywalker Syndrome" -- grab somebody that nobody's seen before and nobody will realize that they can't act for at least a movie or two. Most recently, see Orlando Bloom in... well, pretty much anything he's been in lately.

Eh, Orlando's oK. So is Jackman.

Back on topic, having only seen parts of the existing Conan movies in passing, what makes people think that (as far as I know -- just treat me like an clueless studio budget guy) a Barbarian-based film is going to sell after Peter Jackson came through creating entire and well-costumed civilizations for the Lord of the Rings set? Even if I didn't care about the story or the dialog, the eye candy was consistently really dang good. As far as I know, Conan is about a guy in a loincloth wielding a sword that's too big for him to put away -- what are we supposed to show to attract the attention of a mass audience?

See, that's a big part of what was wrong with the Conan movies. Conan was never about a guy in a loincloth wielding a sword that's too big for him to put away. Heck, even Frazetta's Conan wasn't that one-dimensional. REH's Conan certainly wasn't.

But thanks to Milius, that's what everyone thinks Conan is. Way to go.

 

[Dark Jezter]

Back on topic, having only seen parts of the existing Conan movies in passing, what makes people think that (as far as I know -- just treat me like an clueless studio budget guy) a Barbarian-based film is going to sell after Peter Jackson came through creating entire and well-costumed civilizations for the Lord of the Rings set? Even if I didn't care about the story or the dialog, the eye candy was consistently really dang good. As far as I know, Conan is about a guy in a loincloth wielding a sword that's too big for him to put away -- what are we supposed to show to attract the attention of a mass audience?

As far as I know, Lord of the Rings is about some short dude with a ring that makes him invisible -- how did that manage to hold the attention of a mass audience?

Aren't glib interpretations fun?

 

[Knightfall]

Well, Karl Wagner's Kane character has been optioned for the movies. With the right beard and his hair dyed red, I think Kulich could do a respectible job with the character.

I remember Kulich from the 13th Warrior, he was great in that. I think he could easily be a older "King Conan", but if they do a restart of Conan then someone younger should be cast.

But not The Rock or Triple H. God no! At least someone who can act and kick butt. What do people think about Vin Diesel being Conan. He's likely to be busy with Hannibal for a while, but if he grew hair and dyed it the right color he could pull it off. He's definitely a better choice than The Rock or Triple H, IMO.

Besides, The Rock has 7 movies that he is slated to be in throughout 2005 and 2006. I want an actor who is going to DEDICATE himself to becoming Conan, physically and mentally, from an acting standpoint.

Hmm, what about Ralf Moeller who was in such films as Gladiator, The Scorpion King, and Universal Soldier. Plus, he's already played Conan in the short-lived TV series Conan: The Adventurer, which I never saw, so if it was bad then I apologize for bringing it up.

He might be a suitable replacement for Arnold for a King Conan movie. Plus, he's not really that well known so he won't cost a lot of money to hire. However, I still think Kulich looks more like the classic REH Conan, although he'd need to dye his hair black.

Just some thoughts...

KF72

 

[Dark Jezter]

See, that's a big part of what was wrong with the Conan movies. Conan was never about a guy in a loincloth wielding a sword that's too big for him to put away. Heck, even Frazetta's Conan wasn't that one-dimensional. REH's Conan certainly wasn't.

Yeah, Conan never walked around wearing nothing but a sword and a loincloth in REH's Conan stories. Nope, after he killed the man in the tavern fight in The Tower of the Elephant, Conan started walking through the streets of Zamora wearing a stylish three-piece Itailian suit. And when he was locked in the palace dungeons of Belvarius in The Hour of the Dragon, his captors left him wearing a pair of bright orange coveralls.

And Frank Frazetta never portrayed Conan as a loincloth-wearing sword-swinging beefcake either.

But thanks to Milius, that's what everyone thinks Conan is. Way to go.

Really? I don't think that's what Conan is. Neither do any other fans of the movie I've discussed it with.

Of course, people who don't have any knowledge of the movie beyond seeing bits & pieces of it once 20 years ago or watching the Conan the Librarian parody from UHF might think of the movie that way, but are such people really qualified to state their thoughts on the movie?

Oh wait, this is the internet: the less somebody knows about something, the more likely they are to post their opinion on it.

 

[The_lurkeR]

Hmm, what about Ralf Moeller who was in such films as Gladiator, The Scorpion King, and Universal Soldier. Plus, he's already played Conan in the short-lived TV series Conan: The Adventurer, which I never saw, so if it was bad then I apologize for bringing it up.

KF72

It was pretty bad. He just can't act unfortunately. :\
Not as the lead at least.

Kulich is an interesting choice. I would never have thought of him as a candidate, but that might work. I have the feeling the studio will go with someone younger though.

 

[Knightfall]

It was pretty bad. He just can't act unfortunately. :\
Not as the lead at least.

Okay, noted for future reference.

Kulich is an interesting choice. I would never have thought of him as a candidate, but that might work. I have the feeling the studio will go with someone younger though.

Well, if they plan to do King Conan then they'll need someone older. However, you are probably right.

 

[mmadsen]

Conan was never about a guy in a loincloth wielding a sword that's too big for him to put away. Heck, even Frazetta's Conan wasn't that one-dimensional. REH's Conan certainly wasn't.

But thanks to Milius, that's what everyone thinks Conan is. Way to go.

Actually, I think that image stems from the early Marvel comics and their need to keep the main character's design simple and consistent from issue to issue. The artist (Barry Windsor-Smith, originally) was on a strict deadline.

 

[Taelorn76]

They could always tap some one from the World's Strongest Man. Some of those guys have the barbarian physique. I mean they pulled Arnold from a body building contest

 

[Klaus]

Actually, Arnold had stopped competing after winning (IIRC) Mr. Olympia for 5 years in a row (something never seen before). He moved on to movies, making jewels like Hercules in New York (once again, IIRC) and a very Wile E. Coyote movie with Kirk Douglas.

Then comes Conan. Arnold starts pumping up again to get into the physical shape required for the movie. He is so impressed with how well he's toning up with just a few months (professional bodybuilders work out all year) that at the last minute he decides to compete for Mr. Olympia again (this is after 3 or 4 years of absence). And he WINS!

Bodybuilding specialists claim that if Arnold hadn't stepped down from the stage to pursue a movie career, it's very likely that he would've won every single Mr. Olympia during those intervening years, which would make him the greatest Olympia of all time.

 

[mmadsen]

They could always tap some one from the World's Strongest Man. Some of those guys have the barbarian physique. I mean they pulled Arnold from a body building contest

Of the strongman competitors, Mariusz Pudzianowski looks the most like a bodybuilder -- muscular and lean. He might work in an Arnold-esque way...