Conan the Barbarian returns to Prime Video with a new story

Conan the Barbarian is set to make a comeback on Prime Video – in the form of a new series. However, this will not be a live-action adaptation of the fantasy story. Instead, an animated series is in the works, as reported by TheWrap.

The first details about the plot are already available. The official description reads:

"After finding love in the pirate queen, Bêlit, a battle-hardened Conan defies gods, fate and even death to save her from a dark sorcery that threatens to destroy everything."

Genndy Tartakovsky and Cartoon Network Studios are behind Conan's return. Tartakovsky is set to serve as showrunner. He will also be an executive producer alongside Darrick Bachman, Fred Malmberg, and Mark Wheeler. In a pre-recorded video message shown at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Tartakovsky spoke about the original creator of Conan, Robert E. Howard. According to TheWrap, he emphasized that he has always felt a connection to the author.

It will still be a while before Conan premieres on Prime Video

Tartakovsky knows his way around animated fantasy, as he proved with his series "Primal,". An animated version of Conan has been on his mind for a long time. As early as 2008, he tried to pitch his idea. Even back then, various networks and streaming services reportedly expressed interest. But it's only now that the project is moving forward. The series is in a very early stage of development. A release date hasn't been set yet, but it looks like we'll have to wait quite a while before it's available on Prime Video.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is also returning as Conan the Barbarian

But the new animated series isn't the only thing fans have to look forward to. Some time ago, Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that a new live-action film, "King Conan," is in the works. Best of all: Schwarzenegger will once again take on the role of the fantasy hero – more than 40 years after his first appearance in "Conan the Barbarian." The new film is set to portray the legendary warrior as an aging ruler whose best years are behind him. Last month, Schwarzenegger spoke about the upcoming "King Conan" film, as reported by the website The Arnold Fans. The star promised extraordinary battles and compared the film to a classic from the '90s: "Unforgiven," a Western that features Clint Eastwood as an aging gunslinger.

Back in March, Schwarzenegger was quoted by The Arnold Fans as saying:

"With King Conan, it's a great old story that Conan was forty years a King and now he gets forced out of the kingdom and there's conflict, of course, but somehow he comes back and there's all kinds of madness, violence, magic and creatures and stuff like that. And now, of course, there's all kinds of special effects. The studio has plenty of money to make those movies really big […]."

"King Conan" is set to go into production next year. Behind the scenes, another prominent name is involved in the fantasy sequel: Christopher McQuarrie, who is set to write the screenplay and direct. The filmmaker has already proven that he knows how to handle a major franchise. McQuarrie is best known for his work on the elaborate and successful "Mission: Impossible" movies.

Key role for Schwarzenegger

Schwarzenegger first portrayed the fantasy hero in 1982. The original "Conan" film was directed by John Milius, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Oliver Stone. The film tells the story of how the title character seeks revenge on his parents' murderers and is a classic of the genre. It also helped establish Schwarzenegger as an action hero during an era when the protagonists' muscular physiques were often the focal point. This type of role was cemented, at the latest, by his performance as "The Terminator" in the 1984 film of the same name and would shape Schwarzenegger's career for years to come.