ROTTEN TOMATOES: John McTiernan, Gerard Butler to Direct, Star in New Conan Movie? Comments

John McTiernan, Gerard Butler to Direct, Star in New Conan Movie?

by Jeff Giles | December 14, 2007

Summary

He's already proven he can rock a loincloth as convincingly as anyone since Marc Singer in Beastmaster -- so will Gerard Butler put that talent to use in the new Conan movie? Back to Article

(1-43 of 43 posts) | Reply

FireflyFan4evr writes:
on Dec 14 2007 08:02 AM

If they are going to do Conan justice this time around, going with such action-film oriented people like Butler and McTiernan is a bad, bad decision IMO. Conan should look and feel like the current Dark Horse comics series, and should be directed by someone like Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro or the like. Making it a straight out, balls to the wall action film will sink the film, and depending on what part of Conan's life they are adapting, Gerard Butler would more than likely be too old for much of the earlier stories.

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Elixor writes:
on Dec 14 2007 08:05 AM

The guy from 300? I don't know. He doesn't fit as Conan for me when following in Arnold's footsteps. I'd prefer to see the guy that played Conan in the TV show and was also in Gladiator. Sure he's older now, but at least he's got the familiar accent and looks like a Arnold replacement.

Yeah I know Conan in the books and/or comics supposedly isn't insanely buffed like Arnold's character, but for me the movie role is too cemented in Arnold's image.

I hope they keep the soundtrack of the original two movies. The music is half of what makes those movies so great.

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Shatter24 writes:
on Dec 14 2007 08:13 AM

I think both the actor and director are a good choice. McTiernan is capable of putting character development and emotional content in his action films, and still make a kick-*** movie. I'm sorry, but Conan isn't Citizen Cane - your not going to attract Spielberg or Scorcese to direct (nor would we really want them to). A good action director, who is capable of some story depth, would serve the character and story justice.

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Astr0creep writes:
on Dec 14 2007 08:19 AM

There's a Conan game in the works so maybe Uwe Boll could direct.

:P

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EdwardBlake writes:
on Dec 14 2007 08:35 AM

Both sound far-fetched.

Frankly, I want to see Gerard Butler do a more modern-day action movie. Gritty with lots of guns. Not an 'Escape From New York' remake, but along those lines.

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zgberg writes:
on Dec 14 2007 08:38 AM

Hmmm...interesting. Not really decided if this is a good idea, but Die Hard was great and Butler seems to be the new go to guy for warrior types.

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iankusc writes:
on Dec 14 2007 08:38 AM

A perfect combo- McTiernan knows how to do ACTION, and Butler knows how to BE action. If they pull this off, I'll forgive McTiernan for Medicine Man, The Last Action Hero, and Rollerball, and Butler for Dracula 2000 and Lara Croft 2....

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Novastar. writes:
on Dec 14 2007 08:38 AM

Naaah.... really this won't work.They need to look for some new face.Mc Tiernan can stay as a director,he can put some jail rage in this movie.

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reavus4983 writes:
on Dec 14 2007 08:40 AM

Too bad Basil Poledouris is dead. His music defined Conan the Barbarian as much as Arnold did. Aside from that, I like both Butler and McTiernan (or at least, DH 4); McTiernan has some general similarities to Milius's directing (both made over-the-top action), but I can't see either, especially Butler, doing Conan. But that's probably just because of Arnold's version's greatness that will never be surpassed. Nobody will ever be able to yell to Crom, or reminisce about picking wild blueberries before battle, like Arnold did. I just thought of something.... Gerard Butler should play Kratos.

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opTIMus Nerd writes:
on Dec 14 2007 08:55 AM

Feh, sounds kind of boring...The Conan game on XBox 360 satisfied my urges for Conan glory (which essentially was God of War with Conan).

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nathanpoitras writes:
on Dec 14 2007 09:45 AM

I hope Gerard Butler has fun being typecast for the rest of his career.

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apostate writes:
on Dec 14 2007 10:02 AM

If they can show some restraint and keep things along the lines of the first part of DH4 and not descend into the nonsense of the last part of it, then McTiernan may be an OK choice.

Gerald Butler comes off as little too educated and smart (as opposed to ignorant but cunning) to be Conan.

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unbreakable_samurai writes:
on Dec 14 2007 10:14 AM

I don't really care about this but I do like McTiernan so that would be cool if he gets, he needs a pick me up.

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BrianInSD writes:
on Dec 14 2007 10:22 AM

I thought John McTiernan only remade movies that were originally directed by Norman Jewison (The Thomas Crown Affair, Rollerball).

What would be cool would be if they could get Oliver Stone to do it. He wrote the script for the first Conan after all and it always sounded like he was disappointed with the way the series died after only 2 movies. For the role of Conan, they should cast an unknown and put more well-established actors in the supporting roles.

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rt_hire_me writes:
on Dec 14 2007 12:09 PM

I read Conan when I was 11. Who can say if I was changed for the better? I'll tell you something: I was changed for good.

Get the guy who did Knight's Tale. Do a rock and roll barbarian epic.

OR

Get the guy who did Mad Max II. But if that was the same guy who did Beyond Thunderdome, then don't.

The music for the original was Carmina Burana by Carl Orff. It absolutely rocks, and I think Elixor should get some kind of reward like a mini-Golden Tomato for suggesting that.

I watched the original with my cousin on his Beta, and my uncle walked in right at the naked witch part. And he sat and watched it with us, so we couldn't rewind it. Ruined my mojo, I can tell you that.

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Racer Z writes:
on Dec 14 2007 12:32 PM

Great choice for Conan. Arnold was always too big and lumbering to be Conan. The original Robert E. Howard character is more agile and athletic. Gerard Butler is a good fit.

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rgallitan writes:
on Dec 14 2007 12:48 PM

In reply to this comment (#1356459)
I'm afraid the same guy directed all three Mad Max movies. But he's not available anyway, since he's currently babysitting the celluloid turd soon to be known as Justice League of America.

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reyes writes:
on Dec 14 2007 02:27 PM

This is ruining my childhood!

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kissman24 writes:
on Dec 14 2007 02:48 PM

Why do we need more of this series again??

Oh, because too many of us are foolish enough to pay to see this crap. I sure hope we don't, though.

There's too many sequels/remakes of mediocre films as-is.

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screwhead100 writes:
on Dec 14 2007 05:01 PM

for me the movie role is too cemented in Arnold's image.

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VibTDog writes:
on Dec 14 2007 07:23 PM

Good news. Freaking loved Conan as a kid. Butler better start growing the hair and pushing the grindwheel. McTiernan needs a diet of exclusively raw meat. Mako better narrate, even if he is dead.

The whole cast and crew must be beaten severely every day.

These are just a few initial steps in the process of making this movie correctly.

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savethemooses writes:
on Dec 14 2007 11:03 PM

I wish we were talking about a Conan O'Brien movie.

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moviegodfather writes:
on Dec 14 2007 11:34 PM

ok ok 2 years ago it was definetly triple h in the role, he even came out dressed as conan at wrestlemania. Butler's too good for this, I'd like to see him create his own action icon. Also this is not McTiernan's style, keep this duo, switch the movie and you've got a winner. As for conan give me wachowski bros. a beefed up bozo, and all the cg you can shake a giant sea monster at

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rt_hire_me writes:
on Dec 15 2007 12:54 AM

How about Red Sonja? Somebody should get talked into remaking that.

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unclehulka writes:
on Dec 15 2007 06:46 AM

this is stupid. stop with the remakes.

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baz050 writes:
on Dec 15 2007 09:46 AM

that would be pretty sweet if Gerard Butler wasn't coming out in a romantic comedy. Didn't we get enough of this from Hugh Jackman?

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Brad 3000 writes:
on Dec 15 2007 09:56 AM

All you idiots complaining about remakes must not realize that Conan has been around since the 1930s and that the arnold/millius movie, while fun and cool, HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with Conan. It was Conan the Barbarian in name only because the plot, characters and world were unrecognizable from the books and comics. Don't get me wrong - I love the movie - but a REAL Conan movie has yet to be made. Stop whining when you don't know what the hell you are talking about.

Also, to the people in this comments section who seem to think McTiernan had something to do with Die Hard 4... you are also idiots. Len Weisman of Underworld fame directed Live Free or Die Hard. McTiernan directed the original Die Hard and Die Hard With a Vengeance.

That said - meh. Neither of these choices really does it for me. But it is just a rumor for now and not to be taken too seriously.

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vballs9er writes:
on Dec 15 2007 10:04 AM

Are we all insane? John McTiernan is a terrible choice for this kind of project. Die Hard 4 was crap, pure and simple. It was just an excuse to make lots of money off the Die Hard franchise, resulting in a inferior movie. It sounds like they are trying to do the same thing with Conan. If they try to do this film they are going to end up with some PG-13 crap made to appeal to the widest audience possible so it can make as much money as possible, and the quality of the film will suffer immensely. I, for one, can wait just a little bit longer to be disappointed by some new incarnation of a movie that I loved as a child.

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FireflyFan4evr writes:
on Dec 15 2007 11:14 AM

In reply to this comment (#1361667)
That's why someone like Peter Jackson, Ridley Scott, del Toro or the like should direct this film. Make it a hard R, with all the violence and casual sexual content that makes Conan so great. No studio interefence please.

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adam41480 writes:
on Dec 15 2007 06:09 PM

I have to agree with Brad 3000...even AFTER he explained that McTiernan had nothing to do with DH4, yet another donkey immediately mentions how McTiernan crapped DH4 up! HILARIOUS! I think I like the idea of McTiernan and Butler. At least we're talking about two established names and not a couple of unknowns. McTiernan may have one more solid action movie up his sleeve, and I can't think of anyone that can perform the gritty action and deliver melodramatic dialogue better than Butler. I say, bring it on! If it sucks at least we'll all be able to make fun of it, right?

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Rated_Xpert writes:
on Dec 15 2007 11:03 PM

I still say make the "King Conan" movie with Vladimir Kulich from 13th Warrior

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windlegends writes:
on Dec 16 2007 07:15 AM

It would be a big mistake for Butler to do Conan. He did Attila and 300. That's enough of that kind of thing. He's got the new comedy with Hillary Swank coming out on 12/21/07 and that's enough chick-lit comedy, too. I was really disappointed that he wasn't going to be in Priest. He'd have been great in that graphic novel series. Instead, he's done Rocka Rolla for Guy Ritchie and from what I've heard there may be two sequels to that Brit Gangster film....with lots of guns, btw. :) He's also doing The Game (title will most likely change), a futuristic movie where he's a pawn in a deadly game along the lines of Running Man. Then there's Nym's Island where he plays a dual role with one of them an Indiana Jones-like character from a little girl's fantasies.

Sometimes you have to wonder how an actor picks his roles. I'd love to see Butler do a western. Russell Crowe and Christian Bale proved it could work in 3:10 to Yuma.

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swiftsurerunner writes:
on Dec 16 2007 02:01 PM

It would be nice to see a Conan movie that actually did the Robert E Howard stories justice. The Arnold movies were really quite bad in depicting Conan, focusing on the brawn rather than the brain. In the books, Conan is charismatic and intelligent. That being said, Butler is right for Conan only in body type. Better to cast an unknown and cast known actors in supporting roles, like was suggested earlier.

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isaac2589 writes:
on Dec 16 2007 07:21 PM

i know this kinda is outta topic, But i recently found out something thats been tripping me out for like days! i never knew that dracula in "dracula 2000" was gerard butler! lol & i love that movie!

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pljole writes:
on Dec 16 2007 11:54 PM

I've always thought that Rock would be great as Conan

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renodc writes:
on Dec 17 2007 09:22 AM

In reply to this comment (#1367051)
The downside to casting Butler or even the suggestion of the Rock is that both actors have played similar loin-cloth roles, and it would be extremely difficult to watch them as Conan without thinking of King Leonidas or the Scorpion King.

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Matanuki writes:
on Dec 17 2007 11:25 AM

Hey whatever, folks. As long as they don't cast John Cena. And nobodys childhood that is already over stands to be "ruined" by this movie. lol. Now, will new generations be shortchanged by a lesser Conan the way they've been shortchanged by a lesser Voltron (Power Rangers)? It remains to be seen.

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Choralone writes:
on Dec 17 2007 11:40 PM

Nobody can surpass Arnold with his booming reply to the question, "What is best in life?"

"Crush your enemies,
see them driven before you,
and hear the lamentation of the women."

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MoovyBuff writes:
on Dec 19 2007 02:25 PM

Butler is a douche and 300 was retarded. Last thing we need is a conan w/ a Scottish accent.

This one is a no brainer. Um hello!!!! The Rock. Conan is brown, buff, and athletic. Done deal, the Rock is perfect. I know he's not white and this board seems to just ooze over the thought over another movie starring another white guy but get real, the Rock was born to play this role, leave butler to his true calling; chick flicks w/ Ms. Swank.

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darkangel7090 writes:
on Dec 20 2007 06:33 PM

Gerard Butler as Conan the Barbarian?!
Hard to believe the same guy that got punked down onscreen by Angelina J. in "Tomb Raider 2" is now the action hero du jour. So this is what we get to fill the action genre void left by the legends that were Arnold and Sly.
If we're going this mediocre, why not bring back Jan Micheal Vicent, Rowdy Roddy Piper or Dennis Rodman.

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rattsexy writes:
on Mar 29 2008 10:14 PM

the rock is a terrible choice he is too small now lost too much weight. triple h on the other hand PERFECT!!!

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Unas writes:
on Aug 17 2009 06:29 PM

It should be that Roland Kickinger. Not anyone can be Conan!!

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Yessie O. writes:
on Nov 24 2009 07:21 PM

The new Conan movie is NOT a remake of the Arnold version from 1982. The new film is based on the original story of Conan, Conan is described as 6 ft tall, black hair,blue eyes, 185 pounds, chiseled muscular body. I love Arnold but he was a horrible casting choice for Conan according to what Coana is supposed to look like. The Rock was considered for Conan but ultimately a relatively unknown actor named (Andrew McLaren) was cast as the lead. Also Conan is supposed to be 29 years old which is exactly how old Andrew McLaren is. Every generation has their action hero and icons. Arnold had his time, now lets root our new stars on. Marcus Nispel specifically said that they did not want someone who resembled Arnold.

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