Crom, Schwarzenegger Ready for Action as Conan!
Sneak Peak at "Conan the Barbarian" Action Figures!

Reported By:TheArnoldFans Staff
Monday, February 18, 2008

For over six months, TheArnoldFans has been teasing you with the promise of "Conan the Barbarian" action figures created in Arnold's likeness. Never before have we been introduced to an Arnold Conan figure, unless you count the early figures created in the early 1980's which were intended to be Conan heroes but then retitled "He-man: Master of the Universe" figures (true story). He-Man looked nothing like Arnold and they were crap. But now, thanks to Figures.com, the toy site brought us into the 2008 New York Toy Fair to bring us our first look at NECA's Arnold masterpiece!

"War Paint" Conan which is scheduled to hit this summer along with "Pit Fighter" Conan (not on display), are the first of many new Arnold figures to come.

NECA announced that fans can look forward to 4-6 new Conan figres by years end, each wave to unleash 2 figures. The main focus will be on the classic 1982 film Conan the Barbarian and the Cimmerian's many looks. A look or two from the subpar "Destroyer" MAY work its way into the line. When asking NECA if they had plans for any other characters, the reply was that licensing rights weren't really established when the film was released and that they are working on it; it may or may not happen. If/until those side character likeness issues are resolved, Arnold as Conan will be the main attraction.

Click HERE to view more images of this Arnold legend! NECA will be bringing us more Conan figures and collectibles soon so stick around for more photo updates! We might add new images directly into this story at a later date so bookmark this page to see the latest Conan collectibles!

Keep in mind, Sideshow Collectibles will also be giving us "Conan the Barbarian" busts and an Arnold/Conan 12-inch figure! It will be badass...this you can trust!

What about that new Arnold-less "Conan" film you ask? Well, it appears Nu Image is having more problems getting the barbarian ready due to a new lawsuit. Perhaps Conan will just have to keep spinning his wheel of pain to pass the time until he can crush his enemies once more.

Conan Properties Int'l, the creator and owner of the underlying rights to the "Conan the Barbarian" films, is suing several parties, including Lionsgate, Edward R. Pressman Productions,Modern Times Group, and others, seeking a piece of net profits from the films.

The lawsuit comes as indie film company Nu Image plans to begin production on a remake of "Conan the Barbarian," which Lionsgate will distribute next year.

The film series, based on the 1930s pulp novels by Robert E. Howard, was conceived in 1977; at the time, Conan Properties licensed rights to Hollywood producer Pressman in return for five percent of all net profits from the film and its sequel.

Five years later, when the film finally came out, Pressman's firm sublicensed the film, kicking off a series of handoffs. Conan Properties sued Pressman in 1983 and that matter was settled. But according to this complaint, the chain of custody, which assigned rights to the film from Pressman to Paradise Films to December Associates to Modern Entertainment and finally to Lionsgate, left Conan Properties forgotten.

The defendants have breached the original Pressman agreement and 1983 settlement, the complaint alleges, by "failing to remit to (Conan Properties) 5% of 100% of all net profits derived from the exploitation of the first film...and any sequel...based upon the Property, including but not limited to domostic and international distribution on DVD."

It looks like Conan may be tied to "the tree of woe" for a bit longer.

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TheArnoldFans Staff