FROM SPLASH PAGE: A casting call may be out for the lead role in "Conan," since former franchise star Arnold Schwarzenegger is busy governing the State of California. Whether director Marcus Nispel agrees with Brett Ratner's perspective that the film's title character should be played by "an unknown" remains to be seen, but an established action movie legend and former face of the "Punisher" could make an appearance.

"I've talked to the producers about doing something for 'Conan,'" actor Dolph Lundgren told MTV News while promoting his direct-to-DVD film "Command Performance," which he co-wrote, directed and starred in.

Continue reading EXCLUSIVE: Dolph Lundgren Talking To 'Conan' Producers About Potential Role

Ted Kennedy's passing this morning certainly didn't leave the Twitter-Wood feed untouched. I made my best attempt to summarize the spectrum of reactions today some retweets from Elizabeth Banks and Kevin Nealon.

It was also a massive photo-posting day for some reason. And when it came down to choosing between Shaquille O'Neal in a Speedo and Arnold Schwarzenegger's "Conan" sword, which in now housed at his California office, the hairs of choice were not easily split. Click on down there, and you'll find both of them, along with Warwick Davis' commentary on leaving his role as Filius Flitwick to replace Verne Troyer as Griphook the Goblin in "Harry Potter in the Deathly Hallows." Also, the lovely Emma Roberts talks bikinis. It's all in the Twitter-Wood report for August 26, 2009. Read more...

FROM SPLASH PAGE: Last week, the new "Conan" found its director in the gore-happy Marcus Nispel ("Friday the 13th"). The hunt was on for the man to wield the broadsword, and Lionsgate was said to be on the lookout for an unknown to play the iconic part. The Hollywood Reporter is claiming that they may have found him .... and he's a dead ringer for cinema's first Conan, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Austrian actor Roland Kickinger is currently in talks to star in the remake, and is not only a physical match for the original "Conan the Barbarian" actor, but he shares a similar biography. He's a body-builder turned actor, and he had a role as a T-800 in this summer's "Terminator: Salvation." He also played Ah-nuld in "See Arnold Run," an A&E biopic about the Schwarzenegger's run for the California governor's office.

For more on the potential new "Conan" lead, Roland Kickinger, head over to SplashPage.MTV.com.

FROM SPLASH PAGE: Last month, we reported that “X-Men: The Last Stand” filmmaker Brett Ratner had parted ways with the “Conan” franchise, leaving the hard-drinking barbarian without a director — but with a little luck and a blessing from Crom, a replacement has been found!

The word is in from Variety that Marcus Nispel will direct “Conan” for Nu Image/Millennium Films and Lionsgate. “Conan” will mark Nispel’s third time reawakening a franchise, the first two being his directorial work on “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Friday the 13th.”

Continue reading ‘Friday The 13th’ Director Marcus Nispel Tagged For ‘Conan’

The word coming out of the UK today is that director Brett Ratner is no longer on board to helm the upcoming "Conan" not-a-remake. Producer Joe Gatta (who is also producing the "Conan"-spinoff "Red Sonja") revealed the news in an interview with Empire, posted today.

"We’re currently in the process of hiring a director," he told the magazine. "For the past six months we were discussing the movie with Brett Ratner, and for more timing issues than anything else we had to part ways with Brett. We all wanted him to do it, believe me; just the timing didn’t work. But you never know what can happen." Read more...

FROM SPLASH PAGE: When last we heard from "X-Men: The Last Stand" director Brett Ratner, who had previously denied rumors he was attached to a big-screen "Conan" revamp, he was telling MTV News who he'd like to see take on the "Conan" role made famous by a certain Governor of California.

And for someone who, by his own admission, isn't officially attached to the new project featuring one of US President Barack Obama's all-time favorite comic book characters, Ratner certainly knows quite a bit about the new "Conan" movie -- and it looks like "new" seems to be the key word there.

For more on Brett Ratner's plans for a new "Conan" movie, head over to SplashPage.MTV.com.

FROM SPLASH PAGE: When last we heard from the "Conan" revamp camp, director Brett Ratner was adamantly dismissing rumors that he'd signed on to direct a "Conan" remake, saying the "Conan" news was premature and his next project would be "Beverly Hills Cop 4."

However, he's certainly not denying his desire to take on Cimmeria's resident berzerker in a big screen update. In fact, the director behind "X-Men: The Last Stand" already has ideas on how he'd handle casting.

Read more about Brett Ratner dishing on "Conan" at SplashPage.MTV.com.

The Hollywood news wagon rolls on as Mos goes lead, Leo snags Crowe, New Line eyes "Conan" and more.

- Oscar-nom Ryan Gosling signs for Peter Jackson's "Lovely Bones" alongside Rachel Weisz. (Hollywood Reporter)

- Indy rumored to interrupt football game this Saturday. The nerve. (ReelzChannel)

- Mos Def turns romantic, will produce/star in "Bobby Zero." (Variety)

- New Line inches towards "Conan" option. (Variety)

- "24” beauty Elisha Cuthbert joins Tim Allen's "Six Wives of Henry LeFay." (Cinematical)

- Crowe to reteam with Leo for Ridley Scott's spy yarn "Body of Lies." (Hollywood Reporter)