Last week we reported that there were three be-muscled actors all up for the role of Conan in the new Conan the Barbarian film.
Those contenders were Jason Momoa from Stargate: Atlantis, Kellan Lutz from Twilight and a mystery third beefcake who was revealed to be Supernatural giant Jared Padalecki.
Well, the contest is over (we don't know if there was a medieval battle involved), and we have a victor.
Jason Momoa.
Despite reports that Lionsgate were keen for a more “experienced actor”, Momoa seems to have won them over. Apparently his screen test was better than anybody else’s.
Latino Review and Deadline Hollywood (the latter being the source of the original casting info) broke the news at about the same time this evening. This is the first really interesting news that has come out about the film. Momoa had a great look for the character — he’s physically imposing, but also looks smart and calculating. He’s not just some brute, and therefore a lot closer to Robert E. Howard’s original version of the character than was Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Both sources report report that Momoa has been the top choice of Marcus Nispel, with LR saying that he charmed the hell out of execs and Deadline saying a few test scenes Nispel shot of Momoa in character were the tipping point.
Additionally, we hear that Lionsgate have “extended an offer” to Mickey Rourke to play the part of Corin, Conan’s father. No confirmation either way yet, but interesting nonetheless.
Meanwhile, with production set to begin within eight weeks (scheduled to kick off shooting mid-March in Bulgaria), Momoa will have to add a good amount of muscle quickly. He has a solid frame, but doesn’t sport a barbaric build. Ripping flesh from giant drumsticks and drinking lots of mead doesn’t hurt either.
If you want a chance to check of the new Conan’s chops before making a decision on his casting, you can catch Momoa in new HBO drama Game of Thrones later this year. Momoa is best known for his long stints on Baywatch (44 episodes) and Stargate: Atlantis (78 episodes).
While Momoa will have to put even more muscle onto his hot bod, Rourke should arrive in great shape if he accepts the role. After all, he bulked up for 2008’s The Wrestler and he’s coming off his role as Russian super-villain Whiplash in Iron Man 2. This would be an inspired choice for Corin and it would be a pleasure to see Rourke in yet another large-scale film.
Andrew Lobel’s re-write on the early screenplay by Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer is getting high marks.
Conan will be produced and distributed by Lionsgate.