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

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

Now I have a franchise reboot. Ho, ho, ho.

by Jeff Giles | December 14, 2007

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?

That's what French film site Mad Movies is saying -- or at least, that's how Ain't It Cool News translates the report, and since we took Spanish in high school, we're sort of at their mercy. According to the latest rumors, Butler is being floated as the new Conan -- and John McTiernan, apparently, is first on the studio's list of potential directors.

McTiernan, as you might recall, has been having sort of a bad year; he was recently sentenced to a $100,000 fine and four months in jail for his role in the Anthony Pellicano fiasco. The Conan gig could be just the pick-me-up the Die Hard director needs.

Source: Ain't It Cool News

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(1-20 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.

(Reply to this)

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

(Reply to this)

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.

(Reply to this)

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.

(Reply to this)

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.

(Reply to this)

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.

(Reply to this)

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!

(Reply to this)

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.

(Reply to this)

screwhead100 writes:
on Dec 14 2007 05:01 PM

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

(Reply to this)

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