So sayeth soothsaying reporter/aggressor Devin Faraci over at CHUD, who has it on good authority that the V FOR VENDETTA director and Team Wachowski member will be taking over the sword-sharpening duties for CONAN's latest screen adventure.
We just heard of Ratner's departure the other day, so the producers are clearly anxious to get the Cimmerian death-machine hacking through the Hyborian Age as soon as possible. The project still needs a capable star and some script work, but it's probably safe to assume that would come quickly with the addition of someone like McTeigue.
You may recall that the Wachowskis were attached to a CONAN movie several years ago (the intended sequel KING CONAN: CROWN OF THORNS), so this would sort of make sense -- McTeigue has been their assistant director since the MATRIX days, and they've obviously collaborated since.
There would appear to be a behind-the-scenes brouhaha in the making over who should direct the new CONAN movie. As I'm sure you've heard, Brett Ratner was shown the door and now Lionsgate and Nu Image/Millennium are looking for a replacement. Problem is, according to CHUD, they can't seem to agree.
As was reported late last week, Nu Image/Millenium was zeroing in on James McTeague (V FOR VENDETTA) as their man. But now comes word that Lionsgate isn't sold on McTeague and instead has a couple other directors in mind. Their list includes Marcus Nispel (FRIDAY THE 13TH), Christophe Gans (SILENT HILL) and Neil Marshall (THE DESCENT). Quite frankly, I think Marshall is the best choice out of any that I've heard so far but it looks like Nispel is the frontrunner at this point.
While I don't agree that Nispel would make the best CONAN film, it's hard to argue with the success of both TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and FRIDAY THE 13TH. Who's your choice to direct a CONAN movie? Any of these guys? Someone completely different?
Variety has confirmed a CHUD scoop saying that Marcus Nispel will direct Conan for Nu Image/Millennium Films, ending a nine-year development ordeal to reinvent the Robert E. Howard-created barbarian first immortalized onscreen by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1982.
Production on the remake is set to start late this year in Bulgaria and South Africa. Nu Image/Millennium is making the film in a co-production with Lionsgate. Avi Lerner and Joe Gatta are producing with Fredrick Malmberg.
The film will be the most financially ambitious ever for Lerner, with a script by Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer, whose credits include Sahara and Cowboys & Aliens.
Nispel will make Conan his third remake, after The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Friday the 13th.
Nispel said he will blend his childhood imaginings of the character with the influence of the famous Conan illustrations by Frank Frazetta, and the influence of such viscerally violent period films as Mel Gibson's Apocalypto.
1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
2. Star Trek
3. District 9
4. Curious Case of Benjamin Button
5. Transformers 2
6. Terminator Salvation
7. Watchmen
8. This Is It
9. Inglorious Basterds
10. Bruno
11. Wolverine
12. Friday 13th
13. Monsters Vs Aliens
14. Angels and Demon's
15. Hannah Montana
