Jason Momoa made a name for himself with Game of Thrones, and around the time we first met Khal Drogo, Conan the Barbarian also arrived in theaters.
The movie did the actor's profile no favours, as it was slammed by critics and ended up being a box office flop that lost Lionsgate upwards of $26 million. Momoa's career eventually rebounded, something that was helped by his role as Aquaman in the DC Extended Universe, and he's now talked candidly about playing Conan way back in 2011.
During a recent interview with GQ (via SFFGazette.com), Momoa pointed to the studio and/or filmmakers being responsible for taking the Conan the Barbarian reboot down a different creative route than the one he signed up for.
"I've been a part of a lot of things that really sucked, and movies where it's out of your hands," the actor recalls. "Conan [the Barbarian] was one of them. It's one of the best experiences I had and it [was] taken over and turned into a big pile of shit."
Talking about how his career has since evolved, Momoa went on to express relief that he's no longer typecast in Hollywood. "It's been hard because people always think I'm just this dude who plays [macho characters]. But I want to be moved, I want something new. Things are changing, and even the villain roles I'm playing now are eccentric."
One of those villain roles is in next year's Fast X, and Momoa says he'll have pink and purple toenails and drive a lavender-coloured car. He'll also blow up Ludacris' ride in the movie! "I'm a peacock at the highest level and I'm having the time of my life," he said of his makeover for the next instalment of the Fast & Furious franchise.
The Conan the Barbarian franchise has remained on the shelf ever since, and there's been no indication that we're getting another take on this iconic character any time soon.
Something tells us Momoa won't be reprising the role, though Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will arrive in theaters on March 17, 2023.