Screenwriter Sean Hood Talks Conan The Barbarian!

Screenwriter Sean Hood Talks Conan The Barbarian!

Sean Hood tells us about rewrites on Conan The Barbarian, it's R rating and how much different this new film will be from other Conan Movies.

By Hawksblueyes - Jan 20, 2011 07:01 AM EST
Filed Under: Conan
Source: Rama's SCREEN

Rama'sSCREEN spent the last month conducting an e-mail interview with Sean Hood, the man who was responsible for rewriting the Conan The Barbarian movie script. There is not much about the film that the interview does not cover, it's both comprehensive and extensive.

Below is just a portion of the interview...

Did you set it up so that the movie would have scenes that jump out at your face? or is it going to be more depth of field type 3D like Pixar’s UP and TOY STORY 3? What is the goal to have CONAN in 3D besides to have audiences pay more for those pesky glasses?

Unlike many recent fantasy films, in which the images and action look more like a digital cartoon than the natural world, the director was very passionate about filming Conan in a way that looks gritty and realistic. In other words, the stunts, the fighting, and the visual effects were done, whenever possible, IN CAMERA.

I think that audiences are hungry for this kind of action film. In this Conan the Barbarian, people don’t flip backwards through the air in gravity defying bullet time or leap across chasms as if playing Nintendo. Swords are heavy, armor is cumbersome, and when people break bones or crack skulls, the audience winces. The action feels visceral and authentic.

The 3D elements in Conan are meant to enhance this concrete and naturalistic style. In scenes of warfare, you feel trapped between spearmen and archers. In scenes in ancient ruins you feel dizzy with vertigo. In this movie, 3D is used to enhance the effects of a barbaric world and to push the story forward. It’s more about immersing the audience in the environment than “jumping out in your face.”

Of course, I haven’t seen a cut in 3D yet, and something tells me they won’t be able to resist a sword thrust or two into the audience’s eyes. And, it’s always fun when your date dives onto your lap to duck an arching spatter of blood.



Correct me if I’m wrong but I understand Stephen Lang plays the villain Khalar Zym, what type of villain can we expect here? How brutal is he in the story?

Steven Lang plays a very sadistic villain, but the changes we made in the shooting script gave him a very sympathetic and “human” goal. So much so that some were worried during shooting that his motivation was TOO sympathetic for the “bad guy.” Luckily, he brutally hacks and tortures so many helpless victims with his unique double blade, that I have no worries that people will find him too “human.”

But every good villain thinks he is justified, even heroic, in his actions… and so does Khalar.



I understand that CONAN will go back to hard R.. .. so how strong are the R-rated stuff here? How strong are the violence and the sexual content in the story?

The world of Hyboria as Robert E. Howard described it is fleshy and brutal. Bloody beheadings and bare-chested slave girls abound. However, while the movie is unflinching, the violence and nudity is part of the fabric of the story.

Robert E. Howard’s novels, although violent and perverse for their time, were not intrusively graphic either. So this is ultimately a movie about the character Conan, a character that will hopefully launch a healthy franchise of movies with stories and characters that celebrate Howard’s work. Yes, you’ll see blood and boobs, but this isn’t an exploitation movie.


Hawksblueyes: There is much, much more to this interview. Click on the link below to read it in it's entirety at Rama'sScreen.
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Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 1/20/2011, 7:05 AM
;P
Shaman
Shaman - 1/20/2011, 7:51 AM
Loving every second of this!!! This film is sounding more and more epic by the article :))

BLOOD AND BOOBS!!!
Stumblin
Stumblin - 1/20/2011, 7:54 AM
Joygasm!

I'm with ya Shaman this is sounding better and better, I like that they're trying to keep as little CGI as possible.
drfate
drfate - 1/20/2011, 7:57 AM
Blood and Boobs should be the tagline! Lookin' forward to this flick! Dr. Fate sees cult success for this, not mainstream, but it will get heavy rotation on blu-ray/dvd for years to come...
StrangerX
StrangerX - 1/20/2011, 7:58 AM
I love the fact that they changed the look of Conan Mamao def gives off more of a Cimmerian feel than Arnold. Also loving the R-Rating
TheAmarilloBlack
TheAmarilloBlack - 1/20/2011, 8:09 AM
Agreed with Fate and Stranger. It smells of win.
selinakyle
selinakyle - 1/20/2011, 8:11 AM
i want a trailer for this so bad.
Boogie138
Boogie138 - 1/20/2011, 8:17 AM
i was so not excited for this but all the talk of keeping true to robert e howard, no captializing on the "300" style and each new picture is making me start to come around. this could be the real deal. ok kids im in... i am offically pumped
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 1/20/2011, 8:20 AM
I agree with all of you. This has looked good to me from the start. It looks raw and gritty, just exactly how Conan should be. While I liked Arnolds Conan films quite a bit, even as a child I could see that they were not a very good representation of Conan. If this film nails it like it appears they will do, I can see this being a surprise blockbuster. While Arnold had the muscle, I think Momoa looks more like what I have always pictured Conan to look like.

I also have a feeling John Carter of Mars is going to surprise the Hell out of many people.
Xandera
Xandera - 1/20/2011, 8:49 AM
THIS IS GOING TO BE EPIC!!!!!


Guys, check out the Sixth Sub-chapter of WHITE FIRE... Sanctuary!

"White Fire"

Denn1s
Denn1s - 1/20/2011, 8:51 AM
blood and boobs? count me in. i was in full support for this film from the very beginning and now even more. give us a [frick]ing trailer...
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 1/20/2011, 9:05 AM
TABOO: This may not feel like a Conan movie but it sure feels more like Conan than the previous two films did.
tocap
tocap - 1/20/2011, 9:08 AM
i hve no interest whatsoever in this movie. and the actor look like a fooking mongolian...
Stumblin
Stumblin - 1/20/2011, 9:12 AM
Agreed Hawk, who would want another wannabe Arnold Conan anyway? All we would do is whine about how it's not the same, the guy doesn't look like Arnold, etc. I think this is a fresh start for something bad ass!
Ranger14
Ranger14 - 1/20/2011, 9:15 AM
"This just doesn't feel like a Conan movie."

Huh? This is exactly what a Conan movie should feel like! The prior Conan movies did a terrible job of bringing Howard's stories to life. If you are basing that off of comparing it to Arnold's Conan, then you need to go read Howard's novels and then you will understand what Conan should feel like. ;-)
Stumblin
Stumblin - 1/20/2011, 9:31 AM
No worries Taboo, I love the Arnold Conan movies too, but I would definitely not want a current make of Conan to try and basically fall in the same exact footsteps.
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 1/20/2011, 9:32 AM
Nothing wrong with that TAB's. Like I said, I enjoyed the Arnold movies but they were not very true to the Conan mytho's. I am excited to get what may be a true adaptation as I have loved the Conan novels and comics since I was way too young to be reading them.
Shaman
Shaman - 1/20/2011, 9:38 AM
Actually, come to think of it, for a R rated Conan film, they could have just named it... "Conan: Blood & Boobs", no? I'd like it :))
blvdnoise
blvdnoise - 1/20/2011, 9:44 AM
Anne Hathaway as Catwoman: http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p55/J-BLVD/annecatwoman.jpg
AlexDeLarge87
AlexDeLarge87 - 1/20/2011, 9:50 AM
Cool! Cant wait!
I hope Conan hacks Rose McGowan´s head off early in the movie!:) If it succeed i hope the sequel has more memorable villains and friends of Conan (Thoth-Amon and Lord Zula anybody) and maybe cameo of Djimon Hounsou as Thulsa Doom!
Shaman
Shaman - 1/20/2011, 9:57 AM
Lets see if this works, blvdnoise



VERY NICE!!! But i'd go with more of a cat shaped eye hole for the mask, personally ;)

For how to put the image up, i believe i replied to you on the spidey thread...
ManThing
ManThing - 1/20/2011, 10:24 AM
I agree with Hawksblueyes

Looks good.

I'm glad they aren't CGIing this thing to death. I AM tired of that.
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 1/20/2011, 10:40 AM
blvdnoise: I already added the photo into the article for you and moved it to fan fic bud.
Talontd
Talontd - 1/20/2011, 11:15 AM
Wow, happy to see the change of heart on here concerning this film! I'm a BIG fan of Mamoa and think this role is going to shoot him to stardom.....as it did for Arnold.

I'm really glad they are taking their time in POST, that makes or breaks a film. Glad everything is looking good!!!


Uh-oh.....here comes DDD with his negativity ;)


TyrannicalOverlord
TyrannicalOverlord - 1/20/2011, 12:24 PM
He had me at "Blood and Boobs". If they make sure it stays rated "R" we will have the beginning of a truely epic franchise.

Besides, Mamoa looks dead on for Conan after looking at the comic.
flames809
flames809 - 1/20/2011, 2:00 PM
sounds really good i don't know shit about Conan but if the guy says is like the book then ima trust him.
superpooper
superpooper - 1/20/2011, 5:23 PM
It's been a long time since we've had a good blood & guts warrior movie. I'm anxious to see more. I remember reading "Savage Sword of Conan", which was more or less an edgier version of the "Conan the Barbarian" comic books and although I enjoyed them, I didn't read them enough to be too critical of how accurate the Arnold movie was. That being said, "Conan the Barbarian" is one of my all time favorite movies. I'd go so far as to put it in the top 3. I don't give a rats ass about anything else Arnold has done, but to me he was perfect for that role. Everything from how he looked to his accent just really made you believe he was Conan. And the music composed by Basil Poledouris is to me probably the best film score EVER. Momoa definitely has huge shoes to fill. Arnold set the bar pretty high my eyes, and Momoa's future may depend on whether or not he can get over it.
superpooper
superpooper - 1/20/2011, 5:30 PM
Try listening to the song "Anvil of Grom" from the soundtrack while your at the gym and you'll be amazed how much stronger you are. You almost cant resist the urge to grab someone by the neck and beat the shit out of them when you hear it. Lol. It's like sonic steroids
Ultron8872
Ultron8872 - 1/20/2011, 7:22 PM
Howard's Conan stories are some of my favorite reads all time.

And the original movies are great as well.

I know a lot of people didn't like "Destroyer," but I thought it was petty good.

Neither were very true to Howard's work, but I saw the movies before I read the original stories, so it didn't bother me.
SeanHood
SeanHood - 1/21/2011, 7:54 AM
Just to clarify... I meant no disrespect to John Milius, (I mean... who am I to criticize Milius?) by calling the previous Conan "films" including Conan the Destroyer, Red Sonja, and even Kull (which was a Conan film renamed with another REH character) "campy." But they ALL do contain, campy elements, in my humble opinion...

- Sean Hood
genrehacks.com
thunderforce
thunderforce - 1/31/2011, 4:38 PM
Blood and Boobs this sounds like piranha 3d lol , awesome .
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