Rob Zombie to Direct 'Conan the Barbarian?!'
Filed under: Deals, RumorMonger, Fandom, DIY/Filmmaking, Remakes and Sequels
I'll be completely honest with you: I seriously don't know how I feel about this latest rumor. But first, the news: Bloody Disgusting says they have "confirmed 100% that Rob Zombie has been taking meetings with Lionsgate and Nu Image to get behind the director's chair for their upcoming Conan film." And yes, when we say Conan film, we're talking Conan the Barbarian (aka the re-imagining of the film that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger wayyy back in the day). Rob Zombie. Conan. Crazy, right? Now keep in mind "taking meetings" doesn't necessarily mean the guy is directing the film. I'm sure a number of folks have "taken meetings" with regards to directing Conan, but Zombie's name is definitely the most bizarre thus far to come out of the Conan camp.
Don't get me wrong, if Lionsgate and Nu Image did bring Zombie onboard, they're almost guaranteed a hit at the box office. There's just something about Zombie and his "f*ck the rules" persona that excites people; gets them all jazzed up. And, from someone who doesn't care all that much about the Conan franchise, I think it would be kinda cool if they tossed in a director who no one in their right mind would ever expect. Bringing on Zombie would pretty much guarantee a "dark as all hell" Conan film; one that would almost certainly contain lots of blood and severed limbs. It could be very cool. I'd be curious to hear from you hardcore Conan fans -- is Zombie the guy you'd like to see behind the camera? If not him, then who?
UPDATE: A Cinematical commenter pointed out that Zombie did take meetings, but turned down the gig because the script was already completed. Instead, he will next direct a biker film called Tyrannosaurus Rex. STYD backs up this statement.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-08-2008 @ 12:21PM
rex said...
Rob Zombie to RUIN "Conan the Barbarian"?
-there I fixed the title of this post for you.
What causes someone in Hollywood to say "we need to remake this classic movie with a loyal fanbase?". Is Hollywood's need to produce piles of steaming crap so intense that they feel they must go back and "correct" any and all past success? Rob Zombie should not be allowed near a camera. If he was such a great filmmaker and creative mind then he wouldn't need to "reimagine" past movies. He would create his own storylines.
Here's a better idea Hollywood: rerelease the original Conan the Barbarian in the theaters in an "anniversary" edition. Fans would go see it I am sure, especially those of us who were too young to ever see it on the big screen. That would cost substanially less and be substantially better.
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2-08-2008 @ 12:47PM
Jake said...
He actually has created his own storylines, 'The Devil's Rejects' wasn't a half-bad horror film, not to mention 'House of 1,000 Corpses' is black comedy gold. Please do a little research before you spew criticism.
By the way, Conan is such a cult classic because it was so awesomely bad. If you say that was an actual good movie, then there is no hope. It would be nice to see a serious re-interpretation without all of the cheesiness and camp of the first films. By Crom!
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2-13-2008 @ 4:12PM
Tom C. said...
Has he ever made a 'good' film, I mean a good quality film? I'm hoping the new Conan flick will have a big budget, amazing soundtrack and so on. I'll just shit if they give it to him.
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2-08-2008 @ 2:00PM
LRS62 said...
Sorry to spoil this for you, but Zombie is NOT making Conan.
He did take a meeting, but since a script is already in place, he wouldn't do it.
His next movie is a biker film, called Tyrannosaurus Rex.
You heard it here first.
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2-08-2008 @ 3:24PM
AJ MacReady said...
Conan WAS a good movie; I don't care what anybody says. Good as in Oscar? Hell no. Good as in accomplished what it set out to do and was a fine example of that sort of film? You bet your ass it was.
And if Zombie IS making this flick, methinks we'd all better get used to the idea of Tyler Mane playing Conan. Seriously; Zombie seems to really dig the big lug.
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2-11-2008 @ 2:40PM
rex said...
I neglect to see how "House of 1,000 Corpses" is in anyway original, but will admit to not having seen "The Devil's Rejects". In my opinion "House" was so boring and tedious that I had no intention of seeing "Rejects".
Of course you don't say why Rob Zombie would be a good choice to remake "Conan the Barbarian" (I do realize he won't be remaking it). By the way you say the first filmS (as in plural) and "Conan the Destroyer" cannot be held with anything but contempt, as it is so bad it is bad.
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