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For any actor, entering into the lead function in a storied franchise generally is a sport changer. For Jason Momoa, that is exactly what occurred when he was forged within the title function in 2011’s “Conan the Barbarian,” following within the footsteps of the legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger. The latter beforehand performed the half within the traditional 1982 movie of the identical identify, as well as its poorly-regarded sequel “Conan the Destroyer.” Sadly for Momoa, the film he discovered himself in was nothing shy of a catastrophe.
At present streaming free of charge on Tubi, 2011’s “Conan the Barbarian” is price trying out in case you’re curious. Why? Nicely, if nothing else, it is an epic misfire that now exists as an interesting time capsule. In spite of everything, Momoa would go on to develop into considered one of Hollywood’s greatest A-list stars after the film got here out, landing the role of Aquaman in the DC Extended Universe and constructing on his earlier small display success with “Stargate Atlantis” and “Recreation of Thrones” (the place he made his debut as Khal Drogo only a few months earlier than “Conan” hit theaters). Even so, this movie may’ve been a make-or-break second for him.
Directed by Marcus Nispel, who was coming off of 2009’s hit “Friday the 13th” remake, the film follows Conan (Momoa) as he carves a bloody path of vengeance throughout the land of Hyboria. This path leads him into an epic battle with evil, with Conan’s mortal enemy Khalar Zym (Stephen Lang) searching for the legendary Masks of Acheron, which can enable him to lift his spouse from the lifeless and develop into immortal. It’s going to additionally unleash a depraved power upon the land, with solely Conan standing in the way in which.
Produced by Millennium Movies and launched by Lionsgate, the “Conan” remake was, fairly merely, a failure in each sense of the phrase.
The Conan the Barbarian remake was a complete trainwreck
For years, there have been plans to make a third “Conan” movie starring Schwarzenegger titled “The Legend of Conan” or “King Conan.” Nonetheless, that modified after he was elected Governor of California in 2003. Warner Bros. then spent a number of extra years growing a “Conan” reboot earlier than shedding the rights, permitting Millennium to swoop in and safe the franchise in a seven-figure deal in 2007 (as reported by Variety on the time).
A number of writers and administrators flirted with the mission, with Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer (“Sahara”), together with Sean Hood (“Halloween: Resurrection”), in the end getting screenplay credit score. Improvement hell and too many cooks within the kitchen hardly ever breeds good outcomes, although, and regardless of having a seemingly good lead in Momoa, plus supporting gamers like Ron Perlman (“Hellboy”), Rose McGowan (“Charmed”), and even Morgan Freeman (“March of the Penguins”) because the movie’s narrator, it did not come collectively.
“Conan the Barbarian” was savaged by critics, as evidenced by its 25% Rotten Tomatoes rating. In opposition to a hulking $90 million manufacturing price range, it made simply $63.5 million on the field workplace. With out even accounting for inflation, that is lower than the 1982 “Conan,” which boasts a $79.1 million lifetime gross. Hopes had been excessive, although, and Momoa even started writing a sequel at one point, however that clearly did not come to cross.
The actor has no delusions about what occurred, both. “I have been part of lots of issues that actually sucked, and flicks the place it is out of your arms. ‘Conan [the Barbarian]’ was considered one of them,” as Momoa once put it. “It is probably the greatest experiences I had and it [was] taken over and was an enormous pile of s***.”
You can also grab “Conan the Barbarian” on 4K, Blu-ray, or DVD on Amazon.
