'Triple H' to Replace Arnold in King Conan?

The following report appeared at IGNFilmForce.com:

“IGN FilmForce has learned who is poised to replace Arnold Schwarzenegger as the title character in the long-in-development King Conan: Crown of Iron. Confirming rumors first reported last fall, Warner Brothers and writer-director John Milius have indeed settled on wrestler-actor Paul Michael Levesque, a.k.a. Triple H, to play Robert E. Howard's barbarian hero. It should be noted, however, that it isn't a done deal just yet.

There's also no word on when King Conan might finally go before cameras. Triple H was previously rumoured to be up for the role of Kon, Conan's estranged son. He'll next be seen as 'Grimwood' in Blade: Trinity.

Milius has apparently long believed that Triple H has the potential to be the next Schwarzenegger. He should know since he cast the bodybuilding champ in 1982's Conan The Barbarian , launching Arnold 's stellar film career. We were told that Gov. Schwarzenegger has given the film and Triple H his blessing.

Triple H is also attached to star in Milius' biker flick Jornada del Muerto but that project has hit a roadblock. Sources advised IGNFF that the project may be in the process of falling apart even though principal photography was slated to begin this July in New Mexico .

There's apparently a burgeoning power struggle between Milius and WWE Films, the World Wrestling Entertainment's movie division. WWE honcho Vince McMahon – who also happens to be Triple H's father-in-law – was to have executive produced Jornada. WWE Films also produced The Rock's last two vehicles, The Rundown and Walking Tall .

IGNFF was advised that the issue threatening to derail Jornada del Muerto involves talent agencies. WWE is repped by Endeavor whereas Milius is signed with ICM. (Endeavor was founded by ex-ICM agents.) Sources claim that Endeavor and WWE Films instead want to make an in-house film project, a package utilizing their own clients. This left the ICM-repped Milius as the proverbial wrench in the machine.

We were advised that Milius' deal for Jornada had essentially been made by Vince McMahon and without the involvement of certain high-level execs at WWE Films, and that is what's led to this situation exploding now.

Unless the situation can be resolved, Milius could reluctantly walk away and let Jornada fall apart, which seems fine by WWE Films (and, thus, Endeavor). Milius and Triple H remain friendly and are willing to work together on King Conan instead.

Jornada del Muerto is a neo-Western following ex-Marine/ex-Hell's Angel/ex-con Jonah Hawk's vengeful campaign against the Road Wolves, a vicious biker gang that kills Jonah's friend and kidnaps the man's girlfriend. Jonah targets the Road Wolves and their allies, culminating in a battle royale in the New Mexico desert.”

Bad news. We were all hoping that Arnold would do King Conan: Crown Of Iron after he had finished his job as Governor of California. But now that he has given his blessing to both the film AND Triple H, it's not looking that way! Looks like we'll all have to wait and see, and pray to CROM that Arnold changes his mind and decides to play Conan himself!

It's not all bad news in the world of Conan though. TheArnoldFans.com have more exclusive pictures of the Conan the Barbarian Collectors' Cards.

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Global Arnold Staff