Robert Rodriguez, the filmmaker known for his bold genre work, recently revealed new details about his ambitious pitch for a Conan the Barbarian trilogy during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. Longtime fans of Robert E. Howard’s original Conan stories, must have felt a mix of exciement and frustration for what seems like an out of reach dream project for fans hoping to see Conan return to the screen in grand fashion.
Rodriguez explained that after Netflix acquired the rights to Conan in 2020, he pitched a trilogy that would follow Conan through his classic literary arcs: “Conan the thief, Conan the buccaneer and mercenary, and Conan the king.” He even discussed the project with James Cameron, hoping to bring the painterly, epic style of the original stories to life using modern technology. “Netflix had it. I went and pitched it to them. And then they let the rights lapse. Sometimes it’s too much baggage for a character,” Rodriguez told Rogan, adding, “No one has captured the spirit of Conan from the books yet,” though he praised Jason Momoa’s performance as the best on-screen Conan so far.
The collapse of the Netflix project is only the latest in a long line of failed attempts to bring Conan back. Before Netflix, Amazon also tried to develop a Conan series, but that effort was reportedly abandoned over concerns about “toxic masculinity,” as revealed by Midnight’s Edge founder Andre Einherjar. According to Einherjar, Amazon’s original plan was to create a Game of Thrones-style adult fantasy series that would stay true to Howard’s vision, but executive turnover and shifting priorities led to the project’s demise.
After Netflix let the rights lapse, the Conan intellectual property reverted to Conan Properties International, a subsidiary of Heroic Signatures, which manages the rights to Howard’s creations. Fredrik Malmberg, president of Heroic Signatures, has since commented that they are now working with a major filmmaker who is both “great and a true Conan fan,” but details remain under wraps.
Andre Einherjar’s reporting has been instrumental in clarifying the behind-the-scenes turmoil that has plagued Conan’s journey back to television. In his interviews and analysis, he’s highlighted how the failures of previous adaptations and the success of projects like Conan Exiles have pushed the rights holders to be more cautious about future partnerships, aiming to avoid “weak partners” and ensure a faithful adaptation.
For now, Rodriguez’s trilogy remains an intriguing “what if” for Conan fans. The character’s future on screen is uncertain, but the enduring interest from filmmakers and the passionate fanbase means the saga is far from over.
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English (US) · 