Rachel Nichols, the sexy green skin cadet  from Star Trek and Scarlett from G.I.: Joe, has been cast as the main female lead for the Conan remake.  I loved Nichols in G.I.: Joe and she could probably pull off another tough but sensual character.  According to Latinoreview.com, the role is described as:

“Tamara is 18 to 24 years old, Caucasian or Middle Eastern, open to all ethnicities; beautiful, studious, correct, a novitiate of a Greek influenced monastery. A master of martial arts, she has been trained to be the Queen’s servant, bodyguard and best friend. She and many other female bodyguards to the queen have been in hiding most of their lives because of the curse of Acheron, which would take the queen’s life to bring almost immortal power to its king. When Khalar Singh, a powerful warlord with ambitions to become the king of Acheron, storms the monastery and captures all of the novitiates, she is separated from Ilira, the one she must protect. With all of her strength and will, Tamara is determined to find and rescue her. She finds herself in league with Conan because of a mutual need to find Khalar Singh. She is not in the least intimidated by Conan’s size or grim demeanor and their alliance eventually blossoms into something that surprises them both.”

Nichols as Gaila in Star Trek

Original Conan female lead compared to Nichols

While I’m happy that they casted Nichols, I’m still not happy with the actor that will play Conan, Jason Mamoa.  Mamoa has worked mostly on TV shows such as Baywatch: Hawaii and Stargate: Atlantis.  Acting wise, he’ll probably do fine because the role doesn’t need much versatility.  Just look cool swinging the sword and it’ll be fine.  What bothers me is Mamoa’s physique.  He is too lean to be Conan.   The creator of Conan, Robert E. Howard, always described the character as muscle bound with athletic abilities.

Jason Mamoa will play the title role

Ahhnuld has nothing on Mamoa

Conan’s dad will be played by Ron Pearlman.  He probably won’t be in the movie for more than thirty minutes because his destiny sets the story for the movie.

Perlman played Hellboy

Bob Sapp, the former K-1 and MMA star, has been picked as one of the main villains.

Sapp has been in the Longest Yard and Big Stan

The main villain, Khalar Singh, is rumored to go to Stephen Lang.  The bad guy from Avatar and the tough as nails deputy in Public Enemies.  His role is described as:

Khalar Singh is in his 40s to 50s, Asian or Middle Eastern, Central Asian, Mongol, Turkish, or Persian, open to all ethnicities; commanding in size and manner, a warlord and formidable warrior, brilliant, cruel, weathered and tanned by the many campaigns he has waged and won. He is driven in his quest to find the Queen of Acheron and has been building an empire to do so.

His goal is to find the Queen whose blood will bring life to the demonic minions of Acheron while making himself king of this hellish power. With this power, Khalar will protect his legacy against the onslaught of master sorcerer, Thoth-Amon so that his weak son, Fariq may rule after his death. While riding into a Cimmerian village to recruit his old comrade, Corin, his large collection of mercenaries slaughters them to the last soul when Corin refuses to join them. The village’s only survivor was young Conan. When Khalar’s search has finally narrowed to the likely discovery of the queen at a monastery of female monks, he also learns Conan is older and hungry for revenge…

Stephen Lang, the badass!

The movie will be directed by Marcus Nispel (Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake, Pathfinder).  I’m not sure how this movie will turn out but if I have to choose,  I’m leaning towards crap.  Nispel’s Pathfinder looked good but never thought a viking movie could be so dull.  If the main actor, Jason Mamoa bulks up, it might not be too bad because the rest of the cast looks good.  Either way, I’m still looking forward to the movie because the original introduced me to the fantasy genre

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