Though he’s a household name now with the success of “Game of Thrones,” “Aquaman” and more, one of actor Jason Momoa’s earliest attempts at being a blockbuster hero ended up a misfire – 2011’s “Conan the Barbarian”.
Momoa beat out “Supernatural” alum Jared Padalecki and “Twilight” co-star Kellan Lutz for the role in the Marcus Nispel-directed swords-and-sandals film, which offered an update on Robert E. Howard’s character most famous for the early 1980s films that kick-started Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career.
Unfortunately, the $90 million-budgeted fantasy film was a major critical and box-office flop, its worldwide box-office haul said to be just $49 million. Speaking about it just over a decade later to British GQ, the actor spoke of his experience filming the project:
“I’ve been a part of a lot of things that really sucked, and movies where it’s out of your hands. 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 s—.”
Sadly Momoa didn’t elaborate on what went wrong with the project in post-production. The actor has now moved on to other things, including a villain role in the tenth “Fast and Furious” movie, which he’s been shooting recently.
Speaking about his role, it’s revealed he’ll be donning pink and purple painted toenails along with a lavender-colored car in the film. The actor, who has mostly been known for playing gruff and imposing tough guys, seems excited he’s getting to go flamboyant in the new film:
“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. I’m a peacock at the highest level and I’m having the time of my life.”
Momoa will next be seen in the third and final season of “See”, hitting Apple TV+ on August 26th, whilst both “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” and “Fast X” open in cinemas next year.
