Arnold Schwarzenegger is hinting at an unexpected comeback to some of his most famous movie franchises, including Predator, Commando, and Conan the Barbarian. At 78, the former California governor told fan site TheArnoldFans that several projects are in early development, pointing to new installments in many iconic series that helped build his Hollywood career.
According to Schwarzenegger, the long-discussed King Conan sequel may finally be gaining traction. He revealed that a major filmmaker, Christopher McQuarrie, is now attached to write and direct. McQuarrie is best known for his partnership with Tom Cruise, serving as writer and director of the last four Mission: Impossible films, along with credits on Top Gun: Maverick and Edge of Tomorrow. “They just hired a fantastic writer and director who did Tom Cruise’s last four movies,” Schwarzenegger said. “They’re writing the story to fit my age. I’ll still kick some ass, but it will be different.”
The actor described the plot as following an older Conan who has ruled for decades before being forced out of his kingdom. He teased that the film will bring back the brutality, magic, and large-scale spectacle that defined the original. “With King Conan, it’s a great story,” he said. “There’s conflict, violence, and creatures. The studio has the money to make it big.”
The project has a long and complicated history. The original director of Conan the Barbarian, John Milius, once wrote a version of King Conan in the early 2000s, and the Wachowskis were at one point rumored to produce. None of those efforts materialized. McQuarrie’s involvement may be a good sign that the film might finally move forward with the star power, talent, and resources needed to succeed. While fans seemed to be amped with the news, Amanda Milius, daughter of the great filmmaker and an acclaimed filmmaker in her own right, had a different take on the news:
NO ONE wants to see a Conan the King written and directed by this fool. It’s the MILIUS script (and my Dad advising on directing) or NOTHING. pic.twitter.com/Tj2Gj6ausA
— Amanda Milius (@AmandaMilius) March 9, 2026
That’s actually not a bad idea. Her dad directed the original 1982 original sword-and-sorcery film which made Schwarzenegger a household name, from a screenplay he co-wrote with Oliver Stone. He also made a name for himself for being one of Hollywood’s greatest script doctors. It would be great if he had some involvement in the project.
McQuarrie’s track record brings credibility to the production. He earned an Academy Award for writing The Usual Suspects and launched his directing career with The Way of the Gun in 2000. His long collaboration with Tom Cruise has produced some of the most profitable action movies of the last decade, which could help revitalize Schwarzenegger’s legendary franchise. McQuarrie is expected to take a short break from Cruise’s projects while the actor focuses on Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s film Digger, scheduled for release later this year. That timing may open the door for King Conan to enter production sooner than expected.
The recent animated cameo of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch in Hulu’s Predator: Killer of Killers extended ending may have set up his franchise return. That 2025 Easter egg showed his character Dutch frozen in a cryo chamber along with Danny Glover’s Harrigan from Predator 2 and Amber Midthunder’s Naru from Prey. It served as a visual tease for future stories under director Dan Trachtenberg. Schwarzenegger seems to be pointing to live-action plans where he would reprise the role in an age-appropriate way. He told fans new scripts and studio development are underway for him to return and fight again.
Arnold Schwarzenegger also revealed during that 20th Century Studios (formerly FOX) has sent him a script for Commando 2, signaling renewed interest in his 1985 action classic where he played John Matrix. For Schwarzenegger, these potential returns mark a major comeback. His last major studio role was in 2019’s Terminator: Dark Fate, which bombed at the box office. Since then, he has focused on television and smaller film projects, including Amazon/MGM’s upcoming Christmas action comedy The Man With the Bag, set for release in late 2026.
A possible revival of multiple Schwarzenegger franchises arrives at a time when Hollywood has turned heavily toward nostalgia-driven content to boost box office revenues. If King Conan moves forward, it would signal that studios still see value in classic characters and practical action — even with stars well past their prime movie years.
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English (US) · 