Arnold Schwarzenegger Announces Classic Movie Revival With Acclaimed Director

The actor revealed plans to revive the Conan franchise with Christopher McQuarrie attached to write and direct.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Arnold Schwarzenegger has shared an update about the long-rumored continuation of the Conan franchise. The actor revealed that a new King Conan project is moving forward, with acclaimed filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie attached to write and direct the film. Schwarzenegger praised McQuarrie's recent collaborations with Tom Cruise and provided some insight into the potential direction of the story, which could involve Conan's return to the kingdom after becoming complacent.

Why it matters

The announcement of a new King Conan film has sparked significant interest in the possible return of the legendary warrior to the big screen. Schwarzenegger's iconic portrayal of Conan in the 1980s has made the character a cult classic, and the involvement of an acclaimed director like Christopher McQuarrie raises expectations for the project.

The details

According to Schwarzenegger, the new King Conan film will see the character forced out of his kingdom after becoming complacent, leading to a conflict that ultimately brings him back. The actor noted that modern visual effects and larger studio budgets could allow the filmmakers to bring the story to the screen on a much bigger scale than previous Conan films.

  • The new King Conan project currently does not have a confirmed release date.

The players

Arnold Schwarzenegger

An Austrian-American actor, politician, and former professional bodybuilder who is best known for his iconic portrayal of Conan the Barbarian in the 1980s.

Christopher McQuarrie

An acclaimed American filmmaker who has recently collaborated with Tom Cruise on several projects, including Mission: Impossible - Fallout and Top Gun: Maverick.

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What they’re saying

“They just hired a fantastic writer and director who did Tom Cruise's last four movies.”

— Arnold Schwarzenegger (TheArnoldFans.com)

“With King Conan of course it's a great story, old story of where Conan was 40 years came and he gets complacent and now he gets forced out of the kingdom slowly and then there's conflict of course and then he somehow comes back.”

— Arnold Schwarzenegger (TheArnoldFans.com)

What’s next

The new King Conan project currently does not have a confirmed release date, but the involvement of acclaimed director Christopher McQuarrie has raised expectations for the film's potential success.

The takeaway

The announcement of a new King Conan film with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Christopher McQuarrie attached has reignited interest in the iconic Conan character and the potential for a successful revival of the classic franchise.