Who else could it be? When I heard that actor Jason Momoa was in the running for this role I was quite excited. I thought he was great in Stargate Atlantis. When I heard he was chosen to play the role I was quite pleased but heard a lot of negative comments at a number of blogs and boards. "Who?" "He looks too native." "He doesn't look buff enough"
Well take a look at this picture and tell me that the guy you see here isn't Conan the Barbarian. Better yet, tell him that.
The movie may suck. I don't know, but I think it's becoming clear why Momoa was the right choice for the role.
And no, he doesn't speak with an Austrian accent.
Conan the Barbarian is scheduled for release in 2011.
I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
www.mdjacksonart.weebly.com
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio
8 comments:
I'd buy him as a young Tower of the Elephant era Conan. Not so much for the later stories.
It may be a moot point, since word is they aren't actually using any of Howard's stories as a basis for the movie.
I agree about the younger Conan.
The new movie isn't based on any of Howard's works but I am encouraged that Momoa, at least, is reportedly reading all the Howard stories while he is on location.
Maybe he'll lend his copy to the writers and the director.
Well, to be fair, very few people in the world could be Conan the Barbarian, so it really isn't that bad. I still think a few more months at the gym would've allayed most fanboy fears: he only had about 2 months to build up muscle, and even then, he only built up his upper body. His legs are comparatively scrawny.
Momoa could be a fine Conan, all depending on whether he can act. It's everything else I'm worried about. It's nice that Momoa (and the rest of the cast, even Lang) are reading the stories, but unless it's going to change the storyline, it doesn't really matter. All we can hope is that Momoa can adopt the mannerisms and bearing of the Cimmerian. It'll probably be the closest we'll get.
The whole idea of Conan as a heavily muscled bodybuilder came from Frazetta and John Buscema. Howard's original Conan was usually described as lithe and was compared to a jungle cat. The whole "Bodybuilder" Conan is a later addition reinforced by Arnold in the previous films.
I think Momoa's performance will surprise a lot of people. The movie's storyline, unfortunately, probably won't be saved by either Momoa's, Lang's or anyone else's performances. Some Howard fans have read the script and I gather that they are less than impressed.
Taranaich: I just looked at your blog and your web page and realized that I was preaching to the choir. Forgive me if I came across as trying to teach my grandmother how to suck eggs. Your knowledge of Howard's ouvre far exceeds my paltry dabblings.
No problem, MD, just glad to know another Howard fan!
If the film had a different director & script, I'd be perfectly willing to adopt a "wait and see attitude" with Jason, and in recent pics, he's been looking damn good. It just makes it all the more depressing when the film's story takes some cues from Kull the Conqueror - a movie that needs to have every copy rounded up and destroyed.
Conan is so iconic and with the perfect casting of Arnold back in the day we have all been spoiled. Since none of us have actually BEEN to Cimaria and gazed across the group assembled for the farmer's market, we should be a bit more accepting. Remember that horrible show - Conan the Adventurer. Big guy doesn't automatically mean good show.
Yeah I agree about Kull the Conquerer. I don't know anything about this film's director, Marcus Nispei, except that he directed Pathfinder (which I have not seen and which has had middling reviews from S&S fans I know). I am not holding out much hope for the movie being true to Howard, but if it strays into Kull the Conquerer territory (or, heaven forbid, Conan the Destroyer) I'm afraid it'll be an embarrassment.
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