Stargate Atlantis actor Jason Momoa is the new Conan the Barbarian according to Mike Fleming at Deadline. The 30 year old Hawaiin male model won the part in Marcus Nispel’s (Friday the 13th, Texas Chainsaw Massacre remakes) movie after charming Lionsgate & Nu Image/Millennium during rigorous screen testing.
Momoa beats out second choice Kellan Lutz (Twilight) and late contender Jared Padalecki (Friday the 13th) for the role.
Latino Review also report that Mickey Rourke has been offered the part of Corin - Conan’s dad.
I’ve never seen Momoa act but he’s sure got a distinct look about him which will help define his version of Conan to a whole new audience. He’s well built, has the necessary huge arms and there’s something in his eyes that makes him stand out over the pretty boy contenders he was up against. And with his many hours clocked in already on t.v. – the casting sure as hell beats out hiring a brain dead wrestler or body builder.
Andrew Lobel’s re-write on Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer early screenplay is said to be pretty kick-ass, so hopefully Nispel’s unenthusiastic and kind of dispassionate direction on Friday the 13th won’t be repeated here.
Momoa will swing the sword like Arnie when production begins March 15th in Bulgaria. He begins heavy training today but he doesn’t need to be Arnie sized to make this work.
6 Comments
Pure crap decision. We can skip this one.
If this dude bulks up a bit I think he might be pretty good.
Having never watched Stargate Atlantis I really can’t comment on his acting ability. I just hope to god those locks from that picture won’t be present during the Conan film. Hopefully this turns out well, I’d love a good Conan movie again since we only have one actual good one at the moment.
I doubt Jason will be sporting the dreads as he got rid of them in the last season of Stargate Atlantis. Although producers et al said no, so he had to wear a wig. He’s got much shorter hair now. And, if you want to check out his fighting/acting skills, view the “Midway” episode of “Stargate Atlantis.” In fact, you can see a good display at this fan-made video at YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYjJ_Qooufs
I do like the fact that they got a guy that is fairly unknown, yet still has some acting experience. That way the movie is more about Conan as opposed to who is playing him. That clip wasn’t that bad. I think he can do a serviceable job as Conan.
Are you kidding me? Bulk up? Do you know how many years of intense bodybuilding it took Arnold(not to mention steroids) to get to his size? Arnold’s poop has more beef in it than this guy? It’s almost like hiring someone else to play freddy krueger….oh wait