A new Conan the Barbarian animated series is setting sail on Prime Video, with legendary animator Genndy Tartakovsky at the helm.
According to The Wrap, the project was officially unveiled during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. It is being developed as a partnership between Prime Video and Cartoon Network Studios, where Tartakovsky has built much of his career. Reports indicate that the acclaimed animator has been trying to bring an animated Conan project to life since 2008.
Genndy Tartakovski – Wired, YouTube
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As part of the announcement, Prime Video released the official logline for the series: “After finding love in the pirate queen, Bêlit, a battle-hardened Conan defies gods, fate and even death to save her from a dark sorcery that threatens to destroy everything.
Longtime readers of Robert E. Howard will immediately recognize the premise as an adaptation of Queen of the Black Coast, one of the author’s most iconic Conan stories. However, exclusive information shared by Andre at Midnight’s Edge offers additional insight into the project’s plans.
The First Season Will Adapt Queen of the Black Coast
Andre notes that Queen of the Black Coast tells the story of “Conan joining a band of pirates and hooking up with their leader, Bêlit, the Queen of Pirates. It is one of the finest original stories, and it takes place over the course of two years, which means there is plenty gaps to fill in between the beginning and the end.”
The story stands apart from many Conan adventures because of its focus on the relationship between Conan and Bêlit. While it contains plenty of sword-and-sorcery action, it is also one of the character’s most emotional and tragic tales.
According to Andre, who cites information from Fredrik Malmberg of Heroic Signatures—the company that manages the Conan IP and Robert E. Howard’s literary estate—the scripting and planning process is already well underway. Although animation work has yet to begin, the project has reportedly been in development for more than a year.
Arnold Schwarzenegger in Conan the Barbarian – Arrow Video, YouTube
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If the series continues beyond its first season, Andre reports that Tartakovsky plans to adapt additional Robert E. Howard stories. However, he cautions that “which stories Genndy wants to adapt, in what order, if or how they will connect or indeed if there will be other original stories even in season one, only time will tell.”
Tartakovsky Has Experience Expanding Iconic Franchises
Notably, Conan the Barbarian is far from the first established franchise Tartakovsky has tackled.
In 2002, George Lucas recruited him to create a series of animated shorts set between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. The resulting micro-series, Star Wars: Clone Wars, ran for 25 episodes and won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program in both 2004 and 2005.
(L-R): Clone Trooper Fireball and Clone Captain Rex in a scene from “STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH”, season 3 exclusively on Disney+. ©.
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Following the show’s success, Lucas reportedly offered Tartakovsky a leadership role at Lucasfilm. According to previous accounts, the position would have required him to focus exclusively on Star Wars projects. Tartakovsky ultimately declined, a decision that later helped pave the way for Dave Filoni’s rise within the franchise.
A More Faithful Conan?
With Conan the Barbarian, Genndy Tartakovsky is expected to embrace the mature elements of Howard’s fiction. According to Andre, the series will include the violence, horror, and adult themes that many fans feel previous adaptations have softened or avoided.
He also reports that the animated series is not intended to replace potential live-action Conan projects. Development reportedly continues on other adaptations, including the long-discussed King Conan film that would reunite Arnold Schwarzenegger with the iconic role.
Andre and Arnold Schwarzenegger – Midnight’s Edge, YouTube
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For fans who have spent decades hoping for a faithful adaptation of Robert E. Howard’s original vision, Tartakovsky’s Conan may finally be the project they have been waiting for.
Are you excited to see Genndy Tartakovsky’s Conan the Barbarian series? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
