Schwarzenegger To Return to Iconic Role With ‘Mission Impossible’ Director

It feels like Arnold Schwarzenegger has had several “returns” in his career. He had taken most of a decade off to be the Governor of California, something that feels almost abstract at this point. Then, he started dipping his toe back into the pool with The Expendables. He began acting more regularly again, doing a two-hander with Johnny Knoxville. Then, after twelve years, he returned to the Terminator franchise. Then, like, four years later, he returned to that franchise … again.

Now, the actor is (presumably) looking to generate some buzz (and maybe some work) and has started discussing other franchises he’d like to earn some cash from again. He noted during an appearance at the Arnold Sports Festival (name’s probably a coincidence) that Fox Studios wants him to make another Predator movie, which he said while heaping much-deserved praise on Dan Trachntenberg who has made the last two films (and teased Schwarzenegger’s return in an animated series).

But the thing that caught people’s ear the most was Arnie revealing not only that he would be returning for an old man Conan movie (called King Conan) but that Christopher McQuarrie, director of the last four Mission Impossible films, would be coming with him, saying that producers “just hired a fantastic writer/director who did Tom Cruise’s last four movies to write and direct King Conan.” At the time, it seemed like the actor may be putting the cart before the horse, but now, Deadline has confirmed McQuarrie’s involvement.

Schwarzenegger also explained that the film would revolve around an older Conan who had been king for 40 years before being exiled, but then he must come back to fight creatures and such. Part of the appeal of those original films is getting to see Arnold’s statuesque body do statuesque things, but perhaps there is an angle when it comes to how they get him back on the horse, so to speak. And please, I mean that metaphorically. Don’t put that near-80-year-old man on a horse.

McQuarrie’s involvement is intriguing for a few reasons. First and foremost, it more or less shuts the door on another Mission Impossible film (at least in the near future). While the most recent film had “final” in the title, it did seem to leave the door open for more. Additionally, McQuarrie has spent his last few movies doing big, practical stunts. Conan may require some similar action, but my guess is there will be a lot of… creative maneuvering around Arnold. I don’t think Schwarzenegger has Tom Cruise’s level of mobility, but I would love to be proven wrong.