Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
I’ve been hearing buzz about this for weeks, but wasn’t able to get anyone on the record. Hats off to IGN FilmForce and Stax for breaking the story. I’ll just give you their news break first:
IGN FilmForce Exclusive: The Fall of King Conan
By Crom! We've learned some shocking news about the third Conan film.
November 25, 2002 - IGN FilmForce has learned from sources close to King Conan: Crown of Iron that writer/director John Milius, star Arnold Schwarzenegger, producers Larry and Andy Wachowski, and Warner Brothers are no longer involved with the development or production of any eventual Conan movie. The reason for this shocking turn of events is because Conan Properties, Inc., the company that owns the Conan character, has decided not to allow either Warners or the Wachowski brothers to renew their option on the material. This option was apparently on the verge of expiration.
According to our sources, Conan Properties, Inc. was frustrated with the slow development process that Conan 3 (a.k.a. King Conan) was enduring at Warners, as well as with the Wachowskis' ongoing work on The Matrix sequels. (Apparently, production on Conan 3 wouldn't have commenced until the Wachowskis were finished with The Matrix series.)
Sources have advised IGN FilmForce of some changes that fans can expect from this new Conan movie. With Milius and Schwarzenegger no longer involved, Conan Properties allegedly wants to set up Conan at another studio - no word yet on where - with the hopes of producing "a kinder, gentler Conan," in the words of one source. Conan Properties wants to cast a younger thesp as the title character and to produce a more "friendly" Conan film on a less epic (i.e., cheaper) scale using The Scorpion King as its template. (Spider-Man was another example of the kind of audience-friendly film that Conan Properties, Inc. wants to emulate.) Conan Properties, hoping to strike while the iron is hot, want to produce a cheapie Conan flick that will enjoy a boffo opening weekend.
Interestingly, Swedish-based Paradox Entertainment recently bought 20% of Conan Sales Company, which according to a company press release, holds all intellectual property rights in and associated with the character Conan. This lucrative deal gives Paradox a say in all Conan licensing partnerships, including the film deal that was set up at Warner Brothers. Could these new partners have played a role in the Conan film's about-face?
"The potential in the Conan character, stories and fan base is huge. We plan to increase licensing activities immediately in all media, including newly written books, comics and computer games," said Theodore Bergquist, CEO of Paradox Entertainment, in a press release issued in October. "We've got two major challenges: The first is to be true to the great Conan fan base, and the second is to elevate the Conan brand and its characters preparing the property for another sixty years in the entertainment industry. We feel that Paradox is well suited to take on such tasks."
Stan Lee Media had purchased Conan Properties, Inc. back in late 2000 in a stock swap valued at over $4 million dollars; Stan Lee Media has since gone under. It is unclear how exactly Stan Lee Media was disentangled from the ownership of Conan.
Thus, everything fans thought they knew about the new Conan film should now be forgotten, including its participants, plot and even its title. Obviously, if Conan's owners want a younger thesp in the title role then the story Milius penned - about an older King Conan reuniting with his estranged son Kon - no longer makes any sense.
Okay... now is it okay for me to throw a temper tantrum?
I mean, it’s one thing when twenty years have gone by and there’s been no real signs of life as far a CONAN sequel goes. But when I first reviewed the KING CONAN script, I’ll admit it... I fell in love with the notion of what this new CONAN could be. I was seduced by the script, by the promise of what it might become. I let myself believe. And, of course, it’s not happening. There was a TalkBack on that first article of mine with the header, “I’m not worried about reading spoilers because I know this movie will never be made.” Congratulations to whoever that particular Nostradamus was. He got it right, and all that enthusiasm of mine goes unrewarded once again.
I know. It seems some weeks like we’re a broken record on the subject of Warner Bros. I just wish I was a stockholder of some significance in the company. Maybe it’s time for a change in management. Maybe it’s time for people who will not just develop interesting material, but who will actually have the balls to make it. True, Conan Properties is taking the rights back, but there's been a lot of behind the scenes shenanigans that have caused the delays that got Conan Properties all worked up in the first place. Maybe it’s time for someone who could have given us THE FOUNTAIN and KING CONAN and who actually gave a shit about company assets like Batman and Superman as more than just “product” to be put in “the pipeline.” I would dare each and every AICN reader who owns stock in AOL/TW to write to me. Let’s see how many of us there are. Maybe if every single outraged AICN reader who also owns AOL/TW stock is tired of dumb-ass decision after dumb-ass decision, and maybe if we get together as a group and express our extreme displeasure, then just maybe we can have an impact.
Or maybe no one else cares. After all, it’s a sequel to a 20 year old film that’s a cult item at best. Sure, it starred Arnold Schwarzeneggar, but it was before he was the world’s biggest movie star. The sequel left a sour taste in most people’s mouths. Maybe the time has passed for a serious, heartfelt CONAN film and I’m just fooling myself.
It’s all a moot point now. I think I’m going to go put the original ’82 Milius film on as I finish up work for tonight, and mourn what might have been.
UPDATED!!
Less than an hour after this article went up, I was contacted by Conan Properties, Inc. In the interest of fairness, here's what they have to say:
Dear Moriarty,
One of your readers sent me the link to your article. As managers of the Conan property, we are keeping our ears to the ground and we do listen to the fans. I must tell you it´s fascinating to be a bystander and see these rumours fester. Let me put an end to some.
We always and regularly receive pitches about how and when Conan should be made. Some people tell us Conan should be kinder. Some say less expensive. A lot think quicker. There are always advises left and right. This is because Conan is at the top of many people´s minds and Conan is a great franchise.
I can definitely tell you the next Conan movie will NOT be cheaper. It will have the best production value, the best studio and the best director. There are no exceptions. As far as we are concerned, Warner´s is not out and we are in discussions with them about the project.
I will say that we believe the wait for new entertainment has been long and we need to see some action on the screen. And, as a comment, Conan is the real Barbarian. Scorpion King was not.
We will shortly have our new website up to get closer to the fan community. Meanwhile, thanks for your continued interest in Conan!
Best regards
Fredrik Malmberg
Conan Properties
Fair enough. I'll make sure to stay in touch with Fredrik as they move forward, and I've got some other people I want to follow up with today. In addition, I have to say I appreciate those of you who have already written me about your AOL/TW stock, saying you want to make yourselves heard. To some degree, you already have been...
"Moriarty" out.
