AceShowbiz - Arnold Schwarzenegger has shared significant updates regarding his upcoming projects, including the long-anticipated King Conan movie and potential new entries in the Predator franchise. Despite earlier reports suggesting the King Conan film was shelved indefinitely, Schwarzenegger revealed that the project is indeed progressing with a new director attached.

Speaking with The ArnoldFans.com at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, Schwarzenegger confirmed that Christopher McQuarrie, known for directing Tom Cruise’s last four films, has been hired to write and direct the next King Conan movie under 20th Century Studios. “They just hired a fantastic writer/director who did Tom Cruise's last four movies. They just hired him to write and direct King Conan,” he said.

The actor explained that the script will be tailored to fit his current age, stating that the character won’t be written as a young man but rather in an age-appropriate way. “I’ll still go in there and kick some ass but it will be different,” he added.

King Conan’s storyline revolves around Conan’s life as a king at age forty, detailing how he is forced out of his kingdom but eventually returns amid chaos filled with violence, magic, and mythical creatures. Schwarzenegger noted the studio’s commitment to making the film visually spectacular, mentioning the availability of a substantial budget and advanced special effects technology to bring the story to life.

Although there has been no official public announcement regarding a follow-up to Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer, Schwarzenegger’s remarks suggest that official news could emerge soon.

In addition to the King Conan update, Schwarzenegger also confirmed ongoing discussions about his return to the Predator franchise. He has spoken with Dan Trachtenberg, director of Predator: Badlands, about reprising his iconic role as Major Alan "Dutch" Schaefer in a future installment.

“They did an additional Predator, and the director (Dan Trachtenberg) has been doing a great job of that. Now, he wants me to be in the next Predator. We've talked about it,” Schwarzenegger revealed. He also mentioned that FOX Studios has approached him with scripts not only for a new Predator movie but also for a sequel to Commando.

Schwarzenegger originally portrayed Dutch in the 1987 Predator film directed by John McTiernan, which remains the character's only live-action appearance. However, the character has appeared in other forms, such as in an epilogue scene in the animated film Killer of Killers, alongside characters from Predator 2 and Prey.

Director Dan Trachtenberg had previously sought Schwarzenegger’s approval to use his likeness in the animated film and has expressed interest in developing further projects involving the actor. Although Trachtenberg signed a deal with Paramount Pictures, he clarified that this does not preclude him from directing another Predator movie in the future.

Trachtenberg shared his excitement about the franchise's potential, stating he is exploring multiple creative directions, including an animated movie covering different time periods and new protagonists. He described his current position as one filled with possibilities, balancing his new Paramount projects while considering future Predator installments.

With these announcements, fans of Arnold Schwarzenegger can look forward to seeing him return in some of his most beloved roles, including a fresh take on the legendary warrior King Conan and the iconic soldier Dutch in the Predator universe. Both projects promise to blend classic elements with modern filmmaking techniques and storytelling.