Arnold Schwarzenegger to Star in New 'Conan the Barbarian' Movie

Christopher McQuarrie attached to write and direct the upcoming film

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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A new 'Conan the Barbarian' movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger is in the works, with Christopher McQuarrie attached to write and direct. The film, titled 'King Conan', will see Schwarzenegger reprising his iconic role as the wandering warrior Conan, who is forced out of his kingdom and must return to face new conflicts, violence, magic, and supernatural threats.

Why it matters

The Conan franchise has a dedicated fanbase and the return of Schwarzenegger to the role that helped cement his status as a movie star is highly anticipated. The involvement of acclaimed director Christopher McQuarrie also adds significant creative pedigree to the project.

The details

Schwarzenegger broke the news of the new 'Conan' film during an appearance at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio. He revealed that the story will focus on Conan as a 40-year veteran king who is forced out of his kingdom, leading to 'conflict, of course, but somehow he comes back, and there's all kinds of madness, violence, magic, and creatures and stuff like that.' The original 1982 'Conan the Barbarian' film, which helped launch Schwarzenegger's acting career, grossed over $68 million worldwide and has since become a cult classic.

  • Schwarzenegger announced the new 'Conan' film at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio in March 2026.
  • The original 'Conan the Barbarian' film was released in 1982.

The players

Arnold Schwarzenegger

An Austrian-American actor, producer, businessman, and former professional bodybuilder who is set to reprise his iconic role as Conan the Barbarian in the upcoming film.

Christopher McQuarrie

An American filmmaker who is attached to write and direct the new 'Conan the Barbarian' movie, 'King Conan'.

Robert E. Howard

The creator of the pulp fantasy character Conan the Barbarian, which originated in Weird Tales magazine in the 1930s.

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What they’re saying

“With King Conan, it's a great old story that Conan was forty years as King, and now he gets forced out of the kingdom, and there's conflict, of course, but somehow he comes back, and there's all kinds of madness, violence, magic, and creatures and stuff like that.”

— Arnold Schwarzenegger (Deadline)

What’s next

The film is currently in development at 20th Century Studios, but no official release date has been announced yet.

The takeaway

The return of Arnold Schwarzenegger to the iconic Conan the Barbarian role, combined with the involvement of acclaimed director Christopher McQuarrie, has generated significant excitement among fans of the franchise. This new 'King Conan' film has the potential to revive the sword-and-sorcery fantasy genre and introduce the character to a new generation of moviegoers.