The situation with the proposed English TV version of the Robert E. Howard story, “The Devil in Iron” is reminiscent of the events surrounding the 1986 James Bond film, “Never Say Never Again.” Before producer Harry Saltzman purchased the rights to film Ian Flemming’s Bond novels, writer Kevin McClory co-wrote an original screenplay with Ian Fleming that eventually became the film “Thunderball.”  Broccoli, however, had only purchased the rights to film the novels.  He had no claim on the screenplay written before he sewed up the rights to the books.

After much legal rangling, Warner Brothers was allowed to make the 1986 film as long as the film did not deviate in any major way from the original McClory script or use any names or events from the Flemming novels or the United Artist Films produced by Broccoli’s company.

Applying the lessons learned from “Never Say Never Again” to the proposed Conan TV film may work in the favor of REH purists.  The film makers might find the safest legal route in bringing their project to English television is to adhere closely to the original REH story, “The Devil in Iron.”  The television production, if it does come to fruition, may turn out to be an interesting contrast to the expected action-movie style of the more expensive theatrical production.

As we have reported some months ago, there was an attempt to bring a Robert E. Howard Conan short-story to live by a British TV-movie production team. After some time we now have new information on the status of the project. Obviously it’s not dead and gone as the screenplay for the piece based on the Conan short story “Devil in Iron” is nearing it’s completion.

The project is trying to jump through a hole in copyright and trademark law to make this movie without interfering with Paradox Entertainment/Conan Inc. intellectual properties and trademark rights.

The British television director Graeme Harper is being considered to helm the production of the TV-Movie.

While i understand this being a very complicated situation for Paradox, i am a REH Conan fan and i only hope the project comes to life, is great and increases the Fandom of REH in the long term, that’s all i care for in the end. I think generally it might be wise of them to talk to Paradox and maybe get a license after they nailed it, to really be able to distribute it across the globe, if its any good.

We all suspected the rumour to be well.. only a rumour, due to the fast debunking of it, by several well known and respected news sites around the globe, but now even the CEO of Paradox Entertainment Frederik Malmberg has confirmed that the casting director hasn’t even been hired yet, so no casting can take place right now.

Latinoreview had it right. We have not yet hired the casting director. And the script has been in constant work and is being worked on fram various angles until shooting starts. That is standard operating procedure.

While this clears up the rumour and fixes the fact that Kickinger really hasn’t been hired yet, it does not truly hint at him never being considered for the role so far either.

Since Paradox and Millenium both stated that the role for Conan will be searched through an open casting call – meaning theoreticly everyone can come to apply for the job… with some practical exclusions – the first thing that will happen is the official start of the casting before an actor can be chosen.

Bend you knees, flex your muscle and prepare some impressive growling and acting for the hopefully soon to be opened casting call for Conan the Cimmerian!

The director has been chosen, Marcus Nispel will have some busy weeks going through the screenplay, requesting his personal adjustments and now that this part of the new Conan Movie has been ironed out, the rumours abound around the actor who might play our most favorite Conan the Cimmerian.

Announcements of Bulgarian broadcaster Avtora.com (here the american version of the rumour spreading) have suggested that Roland Kickinger has got the job to play Conan and will jump through the hills of Bulgaria soon. Nu Image has then quickly said no to this rumour and stated that he was not signed to do the job. Now here is the fine line, where it would be interesting to see the exact wording of the Nu Image statement.

Did they say “he will not” or “he is not” signed. Maybe Avtora.com has some sources that saw Kickinger in the studio of Avi Lerner in Bulgaria, which was a good hint the last time that Brett Ratner was in the talking, maybe they just made it up, but since the rumoured screenplay sounds like a Milius all over again (eeeevil wizard, family killed, eeeepic revenge), there is a hint that they also choose an actor that is the likeness of Arnold the Governator.

Fun times ahead, more rumours, more actors, more muscle and sweat and we will definitely sweat – out of angst? – with the actors that flex their body to get the part that made Arnold Schwarenegger famous.

I was contacted by Paradox and asked to release the domain name under which this blog is currently hosted (www.conanthemovie.com), because they want to utilize it in the future as the home of an official Conan Movie homepage.

As we’ve always been in good contact i am going to follow that request and jump to another domain name called www.conanmovieblog.com. If you had any bookmarks, please change them very soon, as i expect this url to fall to Paradox in the near future. Please spread the word about this change, as i would hate to loose all the months of work to get the word around in the net about the blog – thanks!

I hope you guys will stay with us, as we will continue to be the #1 news source for the upcoming Conan Movie and the rumours spreading around on the net.

As some of you know, Fredrik Malmberg, the CEO of Paradox Entertainment, is also a producer and major player in the development of the new Conan film. A short while ago he posted on the REH Forum some interesting information, including [edited line breaks for better readability]…

Where to start… I think by saying that the reason we have not been saying much up to date is because nothing was ready. No need to comment on something which is just an internet rumour, no matter how close to the source it comes from.

Now that we are embarking on the next phase, WE can start telling some FACTS. Scripts go thru many drafts before they are finished. Believe me, I was laughing out loud when I read somewhere that people thought all Cimmerians would be wiped out by werewolves and Conan was the Chosen One to avenge all Cimmerians. No no no.

You will surely know more about the plot, characters, and environs as we progress but for now I can tell you that our writers know their REH… We [Paradox] liase with the other companies involved, Millennium and Lionsgate, so it is a large group and everyone comes from a different angle with a different role.

My angle has always been that this is R rated, that we should not have a “star” portray Conan and that we rely less on CGI. Some other executives may have a different opinion but believe me that there is too much money involved to take any decision lightheartedly. We are all making this film because we think Conan has a huge potential audience out there, and we want to keep making more movies after this one so it has to be good!

With a filmmaker [Marcus Nispel] on board, our jobs shift to support him in all his efforts. It is a giant task to direct a movie of this scope. Hopefully I can convince him to spill some information to all of you in the course of production because I know you are all hungry for it and anxious that we not screw this up. The first real opportunity is around Comicon end of July. We will see if we can get a few words before then for you guys.

That wind roaring past your window is the huge collective sigh of relief as Conan and REH fans breathe a joyful sigh of relief.  Mr. Malmberg, with a few well chosen words, has reconnected the film to its most ardent fans and certainly created a renewed and avid interest in the upcoming Conan production.

Just a short news from the creators of this blog. Another famous character of Robert E. Howard in the name of Solomon Kane has been awarded with a major motion picture, as we have been reporting in the past.

To report in more detail about this ambitious, independant film project, we have started a new blog for that purpose. If you are not only interested in a Conan movie, but also in pulp fantasy movies in general, head on over to www.solomon-kane.com and check out some of the amazing production stills have we have gathered around the internet.

We hope you like our newest effort to bring you all the news about the latest REH pastiche projects!

It seems Dirk Blackwell wasn’t just blowing smoke.  According to CHUD.com writer, Devin Faraci, director Marcus Nispel (“Texas Chainsaw Massacre”) has been chosen to helm the new Conan film. Faraci boasted that his source is impeccable.

Nispel also directed the Vikings vs. Native Americans film, “Pathfinder,” which was received with decidedly mixed reactions from critics and fans.  According to CHUD, the producers are now looking for an unknown actor to take on the role of the Big Cimmerian.

As of now, production is scheduled to begin in late Summer, but quite a few film insiders are skeptical that the film can get off the runway that soon.  Nispel had announced plans to direct a Dracula film, but if this report is accurate that film will be put on the back burner.

Dirk Blackman, along with his partner, Howard McCain, is currently working on a script for a sequel to the yet-to-start-production Conan film.  Nothing wrong with optimism.  Yesterday on the REH Forum,  in response to a query about the selection of a director for the first film, Blackman replied,  ”ah, I can’t really comment in print on anyone without hurting myself, so I won’t. However I gather that a director has actually been chosen. You should hear soon, I would guess. (I’d spill, but… I hope you all understand).”

In the early hours of June 11th 1936, the well known pulp author and creator of characters such as Conan and Solomon Kane, shot himself with a pistol, outside his house in the village of Cross Plains in Texas. Even though his father, Dr. Isaac Mordecai  Howard, did all he could to save his son’s life, Mr. RobertErvin Howard died 8 hours later at 4pm. But the legacy of Robert. E. Howard is living up to this day.

In his room a lonely chair was standing in front of the table, where he had written all his stories on a mechanical typewriter. A last piece of paper had been fixed into it by Howard that fateful night, to write his last words:

“All fled, all done, so lift me on the pyre;
The feast is over and the lamps expire…”

73 years ago he took his own life but his stories would continue to influence generations to come. Not only did he inspire greatness in many fantasy writers and invented a whole new genre of fantasy – Sword and Sorcery – his stories, his worlds also went on to be recreated and brought to life in all different types of media.

While he is most famous for the creation of Conan the Cimmerian and bringing to life his own world – The Hyborian Age – in a unique, brutal and savage way, with words like thunder and lines that resonate in the reader’s mind, his skill was not limited to this type of magnificent story telling.

He had shown his skill and perfection as a writer in many other types of stories and poems. His mind wandered beyond the imagination of most and told stories of the Great West, of a dark and twisted Europe in the times of Solomon Kane, of the long gone kingdom of Atlantis and its great KingKull and also more historical stories about strong and honest men and women and beautiful poetry, that complemented his unique melodic rhythm in writing.

He was a true Teller of Tales!

We thank you Robert E. Howard, for every line you delivered, for every character you have created and will further spread the knowledge of your legacy throughout the world. Rest in peace wherever you may be Robert E. Howard, through your stories you will live on.

Links about Robert E. Howard

• Wikipedia page about REH
• REH creations that are in the Public Domain
• Owner of REH license