While NBC may have just lost their Conan (O’Brien, that is), Lionsgate has just found theirs.
Actor Jason Momoa has officially been cast to take on the role of Conan the Barbarian, which was made famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger back in 1982.
Momoa spent the last week meeting and screen-testing with Lionsgate execs, ultimately beating out Kellan Lutz, John Brotherton, and Jared Padalecki for the part of the beefy barbarian.
The character of Conan is described as being “in his 20s to early 30s…a savage killer that has matured into the refinement his father tried to teach him when he was young…very smart, almost inhumanly strong, and very cunning.” The barbarian is the last of his tribe, the Cimmerians, and vows to avenge the deaths of his people, and particularly his father.
Joining Momoa onscreen will be Mickey Rourke, playing the role of Conan’s father and inspiration.
The script for this remake of the original Conan the Barbarian was written by Andrew Lobel, and will be directed by Marcus Nispel. The film is expected to hit theaters in the summer of 2011.
Absolutely terrible casting. Way to bastardize an icon. Utter blasphemy.
dre – I would have to agree with you on this one!
Terrible choice ,so wrong it hurts.Notice the total lack of complaints about the Thor guy,another unknown.Why,because he was right for the part.This project is fucked,first Nispel,then this.
I love the new Conan. He is a good actor and also eye candy for us ladies. i saw the original Conan. Both the barbarian and the destroyer and I think the choice to use Jason was a reasonable one!