AceShowbiz - King Conan is set to mark the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger to the iconic barbarian role nearly 45 years after his original breakthrough. The upcoming film will serve as the third installment in the beloved franchise, with Oscar-winning writer and director Christopher McQuarrie at the helm, EW has confirmed.

McQuarrie, renowned for his work on the Mission: Impossible series alongside Tom Cruise, is preparing to write and direct King Conan for 20th Century Studios. This project will represent his first directing effort outside of the Mission: Impossible franchise since 2012's Jack Reacher.

The original Conan the Barbarian film, based on Robert E. Howard's stories, starred Schwarzenegger as the fierce, shirtless warrior. Released in 1982, it was co-written by Oliver Stone and directed by John Milius. The film launched Schwarzenegger's acting career in Hollywood, followed by the 1984 sequel Conan the Destroyer, which came out shortly before The Terminator.

At the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, Schwarzenegger shared details about the upcoming King Conan story. He described it as a tale where Conan reigns as king for 40 years before growing complacent. The plot involves Conan being forced out of his kingdom, leading to conflict, chaos, magic, and monstrous creatures. The actor also highlighted how modern special effects and substantial studio budgets will enable the film to be a grand spectacle.

During the same event, Schwarzenegger mentioned ongoing discussions with filmmaker Dan Tratchenberg, known for Prey and Predator: Badlands, about revisiting the Predator universe.

In related news, Sylvester Stallone announced his involvement as a producer for the upcoming Rambo prequel, signaling a wave of revival projects for classic action franchises. Meanwhile, Jean-Claude Van Damme is also anticipated to face renewed interest in his signature roles.