Arnold Schwarzenegger is eyeing potential returns to three of his most iconic action and sci-fi franchises after decades away from the roles, according to MovieWeb.
The actor discussed his future projects while appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to promote his latest film, The Man with the Bag, which is set for release on Prime Video on Dec. 2, 2026.
During the interview, host Jimmy Kimmel specifically named sequels to Predator and Conan the Barbarian, while Schwarzenegger himself added Commando to the list of possible revivals. This marks the first time the actor has acknowledged any involvement with a potential new Predator film.
Regarding his potential return to Predator, Conan, or Commando, Schwarzenegger told Kimmel what he needs to see before signing on.
"I’m looking forward to see the scripts, because that’s where the action is. You know what’s not on the page is not on the stage. So I just wait for the scripts to be perfected and then we go and start shooting those things," Schwarzenegger told MovieWeb.
20th Century Studios attempts to bring Schwarzenegger back to Predator
Since the original Predator film, 20th Century Fox—now known as 20th Century Studios—has repeatedly attempted to bring Schwarzenegger back to the alien hunter franchise. The actor famously turned down roles in Predator 2, Predators, and The Predator over the years.
The first public hint of Schwarzenegger’s potential return as his character Dutch arrived in the animated film Predator: Killer of Killers. A bonus scene released after that movie’s premiere on Hulu confirmed Dutch was being held in stasis on the Predator home world.
Producer Ben Rosenblatt revealed there had been talks between Schwarzenegger and director Dan Trachtenberg, though no further details were disclosed. The future of the wider franchise remains uncertain despite Predator: Badlands becoming a box office hit and the highest-grossing entry in the series with $184.5 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo figures cited by MovieWeb.
Complicating matters further, director Dan Trachtenberg signed a development deal with Paramount Pictures in June 2026 after helming Prey, Predator: Killer of Killers, and Predator: Badlands.
Schwarzenegger provides updates on Conan series development
Schwarzenegger provided much more concrete updates regarding his potential return to the Conan series, which is based on Robert E. Howard’s sword-and-sorcery stories. The actor originally played the titular warrior in 1982’s Conan the Barbarian before reprising the role in 1984’s Conan the Destroyer and 1985’s Red Sonja.
A third Conan the Barbarian movie has languished in development hell since 1997. Universal Pictures announced in 2012 that Schwarzenegger would return for a new film titled The Legend of Conan that would ignore the events of Conan the Destroyer, but the studio dropped that project by 2017.
Development on King Conan was formally acknowledged by 20th Century Studios in 2026, alongside the attachment of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning helmer Christopher McQuarrie to pen and helm the upcoming picture. Schwarzenegger shared specific plot details for the project with Kimmel.
"King Conan is a Conan who is my age and has been king for 40 years. He has become somewhat complacent so they want to overthrow him and get rid of him," Schwarzenegger told MovieWeb.
Frequently Asked Questions About Schwarzenegger’s Return
When is The Man with the Bag releasing?
The movie is scheduled for release on Prime Video on Dec. 2, 2026.
What box office milestone did Predator: Badlands reach?
The film grossed $184.5 million worldwide to become the highest-grossing entry in the franchise.
Who is writing and directing King Conan?
Christopher McQuarrie signed on to write and direct the project for 20th Century Studios.
Which previous Conan film was set to be ignored by The Legend of Conan?
Universal Pictures announced in 2012 that The Legend of Conan would ignore the events of 1984’s Conan the Destroyer before dropping the project in 2017.
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