While actors likeSylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Jean-Claude Van Damme,andDolph Lundgrenall had a tremendous impact on the genre, no one dominated 1980s action cinema quite likeArnold Schwarzenegger. The former bodybuilder delivereda series of all-time classic action filmsthanks to his incredible physicality and undeniable charisma, elevating action cinema into a true art form during the height of his stardom. Although Schwarzenegger is often most closely associated with his titular role inThe Terminatorfranchise and his outrageous performance in the originalPredator, it was the 1982 fantasy epicConan the Barbarianthat established him as the star he is today. While it was the breakout role that proved his merits,Schwarzenegger was put in legitimate danger when he was attacked by a wolf on the set ofConan the Barbarian.
Conan the Barbarian (1982)
A young boy, Conan, becomes a slave after his parents are killed and tribe destroyed by a savage warlord and sorcerer, Thulsa Doom. When he grows up he becomes a fearless, invincible fighter. Set free, he plots revenge against Thulsa Doom.
Filming ‘Conan the Barbarian’ Was Almost Deadly for Arnold Schwarzenegger
Directed byJohn Milius,Conan the Barbarianisa sword and sorcery fantasy epicthat is set within the prehistoric “Hyborian Age” after the fall of Atlantis. The film follows the barbarian warrior Conan, who seeks revenge on the ruthless warrior Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones) for the murder of his parents. Although he is sold into slavery as a child, Conan begins honing his skills as a warrior by engaging in gladiatorial combat rings and eventually earns his freedom. This inspires him to join forces with a group of fearsome warriors to take vengeance upon Doom and his snake cult.Conan the Barbarianwas a physically demanding production that required a dynamic performance in the titular role. Although his acting resume was relatively thin at the time he was cast as the lead, Schwarzenegger’s imposing physicality made him uniquely suited for the role.
Due to the importance that the action sequences played within the story,Schwarzenegger had to perform most of theConan the Barbarianstunts himself. Schwarzenegger revealed that since there wereno stuntmen on set that matched his physicality, he had to perform nearly all the film’s most dangerous sequences practically. Between horseback riding, extensive sword fights, and scaling large cliffs,Conan the Barbarianforced Schwarzenegger to embody the same animalistic rage that drove his character. While this certainly made the experience of shootingConan the Barbariana challenge, it gave Schwarzenegger a unique set of skills that would make him perfectly suited forthe titular role inJames Cameron’The Terminator.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Accidentally Talked James Cameron Into Making Him the Terminator
The director originally had a much different role for him in mind.
The realism withinConan the Barbarian’s production didn’t come without consequences, asSchwarzenegger was attacked by a wolf during the filming of a major stunt.A real wolf was used in a sequencewhere Conan was fleeing on to a rock structure, but the crew accidentally released the animal too early. After the wolf pursued Schwarzengger and caught up with him, he fell backwards into a rose bush and was cut. While the accident left Schwarzenegger with a major wound in his back, he admitted that “those sorts of injuries happened all the time throughout the entire movie.” Thankfully, Schwarzenegger’s hard work paid off, asConan the Barbarianbecame one of the best and most commercially successful films inthe packed 1982 summer movie season.
‘Conan the Barbarian’ Wasn’t Schwarzenegger’s Only Injury
While his dynamic performance successfully showcased his talent,Conan the Barbarianestablished a precedent that Schwarzenegger could perform his own stunts. While this made him an increasingly viable box office draw for audiences that appreciated the dedication Schwarzenegger put into his work, it led to several other instances where he put himself in danger for the sake of a stunt. Betweencutting his wrist during a chase sequenceinTotal Recall,nearly drowning while makingThe 6th Day, andfilming within the oppressive jungle forPredator, Schwarzenegger was often in just as much danger as his characters were. It’s impressive that he managed to sustain such critical damage to his body and still deliver the charismatic performances that make him so endearing.
Although he never entirely abandoned the action genre that he’d built his career on,Schwarzenegger began exploring the comedy genre in the 1990s and took on less physically demanding roles. While it was an ambitious decision that threatened to disorient his core audience,Schwarzenegger proved to be just as adept with comedyas he was with action. While films likethe controversial holiday classicJingle All The Wayallowed him to reach a more family-friendly audience, his self-deprecating role inKindergarten Copallowed him to poke fun at the type of characters he usually played in his action roles. Although he took a brief break from acting altogether during her tenure as the Governor of California, Schwarzenegger has returned to the action genre in recent years withThe Last Stand, Escape Plan, Sabotage,and the Netflix seriesFubar.
What’s Next for the ‘Conan’ Franchise?
Although the 1982 original film is still heralded as one of the most important films in Schwarzenegger’s career,Conan the Barbarianfailed to succeed as a franchisedue to a series of creatively inept follow-ups. The 1984 sequelConan the Destroyerwas maligned for its overtly goofy tone, which contrasted the grim realism of the first installment. While the 2011 rebootConan the BarbariangaveJason Momoahis breakout role, theAquamanstaradmitted that the film was a major disappointment.Despite an R-rating and a more fleshed-out story, the reimagining of the characterlacked the deep mythology and practical filmmaking that had defined the first film’s success.
Schwarzeneggar has teased anothersequel titledThe Legend of Conan, which would allow him to reprise his iconic role in a darker story that he compared toClint Eastwood’s neo-westernUnforgiven. Despite Schwarzenegger’s enthusiasm for the project,progress onThe Legend of Conanhas stalledamidst rights disputes. It wouldn’t be the first time that Schwarzenegger returned to one of his most iconic characters after an extended period, as he reprised his role as the T-1000 in the sci-fi sequelsTerminator: GenisysandTerminator: Dark Fate. However,Conan the Barbarianwas created under such unique circumstances that it would be hard to imagine a new entry could completely reinvent the series.
