Jason Momoa is CONAN THE BARBARIAN, Mickey Rourke to play his daddy Corin?
Stargate Atlantis actor Jason Momoa is the new Conan the Barbarian according to Mike Fleming at Deadline. The 30 year old Hawaiin male model won the part in Marcus Nispel's (Friday the 13th, Texas Chainsaw Massacre remakes) movie after charming Lionsgate & Nu Image/Millennium during rigorous screen testing. Momoa beats out second choice Kellan Lutz (Twilight) and late contender Jared Padalecki (Friday the 13th) for the role. Latino Review also report that Mickey Rourke has been offered the part of Corin - Conan's dad. I've never seen Momoa act but he's sure got a distinct look about him which will help define his version of Conan to a whole new audience. He's well built, has the necessary huge arms and there's something in his eyes that makes him stand out over the pretty boy contenders he was up against. And with his many hours clocked in already on t.v. - the casting sure as hell beats out hiring a brain dead wrestler or body builder. Andrew Lobels re-write on Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer early screenplay is said to be pretty kick-ass, so hopefully Nispel's unenthusiastic and kind of dispassionate direction on Friday the 13th won't be repeated here. Momoa will swing the sword like Arnie when production begins March 15th in Bulgaria. He begins heavy training today but he doesn't need to be Arnie sized to make this work.