An Update On "The Legend of Conan"

Though it's still in development, "The Legend of Conan" is indeed "very much alive" at Universal Pictures and Paradox Entertainment.

This film is not a reboot or re imagination of Robert E. Howard's mythology like 2012's "Conan" starring Jason Momoa, It also apparently ignores the events in the 1984 sequel "Conan the Destroyer". Instead it's a direct sequel to John Milius' original "Conan the Barbarian," one that takes the thirty years that have passed into account in the storyline.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is slated to return as the now older Conan who sets out on one final quest.

Andrea Berloff signed on to write the script for the film last Fall. No director is attached to the project yet.

Scribe Chris Morgan (Fast Five, Wanted) conceived the story and nicknames it "Conan’s Unforgiven.". Morgan will also produce with Fredrik Malmberg

Arnie, Berloff, and Malmberg recently spoke with ArnoldFans.com about the project which the 68-year-old Austrian actor is very excited about:

"Conan is very much alive. Age doesn't mean anything to me, because I work out every day. I work out twice a day, as a matter of fact. At night I work out with weights, and in the morning I do cardiovascular training. So for me, to get on the set and to swing the sword around again and to ride the horses and all those things doesn't mean anything [does not scare me], because I feel like I did thirty years ago. So as long as I stay in shape, that's the key thing, and to keep your body young."

Berloff says that she's still working hard on the script:

"My fingers are nearly worn down to tiny, bloody nubbins as I'm working to give this iconic character new life, while still holding true to the qualities that made fans fall in love with him in the first place. It is no small task to tackle one of the greatest legends of all times but I have a fantastic team of producers around me and we are all ridiculously excited about how our beloved barbarian is developing."

Malmberg says the film takes Arnold's age into account in terms of the character:

"The idea is that this takes place AFTER Conan has been king. The whole idea that got Arnold so enthusiastic about the new creative take is, can he live up to the legend he is? Conan is in his mid 60s now, so he will have to fight through an aging warrior body, having cracking bones, aches and having to get back into the battle."