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Conan The Barbarian TV Show In The Works At Netflix
Netflix is currently in the early stages of developing a Conan the Barbarian series. The famous sword-and-sorcery marauder, created by writer Robert E. Howard in the 1930s, has been a cultural mainstay for decades. The character is perhaps most famously known for the 1982 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Netflix is currently searching for a team to write and direct the new adaptation.
While sword-and-sorcery isn’t the massive genre it once was (as evidenced by 2011’s attempted Conan reboot, which starred Jason Momoa and was a critical and commercial failure), Howard’s character still holds premium real estate in the public consciousness. Schwarzenegger’s first turn as the character launched him to international stardom. The hulking meathead hero may be less in vogue now, but a different take on Conan could undoubtedly be interesting. And Netflix’s recent success with The Witcher shows that there’s a definite demographic for pulpy fantasy fare on the streaming platform.
According to a report from Deadline, Netflix made a deal with Conan Properties International for forthcoming adaptations of the franchise, the first of which will be a live-action Conan the Barbarian series. The project will be produced by Fredrik Malmberg and Mark Wheeler’s Pathfinder Media and is currently searching for a showrunner and director. Malmberg’s Cabinet Entertainment also owns Conan Properties International, and he will serve as an executive producer on the project alongside Wheeler.
While the distinct tone of Conan might not initially seem prime for modern adaptation, Netflix has come out big in recent years by gambling on aesthetically unique original content. Stranger Things brought ‘80s retro vibes into the mainstream in a huge way that is still going, and The Witcher carved a unique niche in the post-Game of Thrones world of fantasy. With the right creative team behind it, Conan the Barbarian could be the next hit in that long, strong line. The larger-than-life nature of both the property and the titular character means there are many potential directions for the new show, from high-budget epic to spoof-style comedy.
Of course, the 2011 box-office bomb and other recent lackluster outings for Conan cast a bit of a shadow on this latest endeavor. Netflix has been able to turn odd franchises to gold before, but that doesn’t mean that every big IP will translate to success with modern audiences. Whatever the new Conan the Barbarian turns out being, it should certainly be an exciting addition to Netflix’s upcoming content catalog.
