Jason Momoa says his ‘Conan the Barbarian’ reboot was “turned into a big pile of s***”.

Jason Momoa is never one to mince words, and when reflecting on his 2011 reboot of Conan the Barbarian, he didn’t hold back. The 45-year-old actor, now widely known for his iconic role as Aquaman, voiced his frustrations about how the project was handled, claiming the film was “turned into a big pile of s***.”

In an interview with British GQ, Momoa was candid about the struggles of being part of productions that fall flat due to circumstances beyond his control. “I’ve been a part of a lot of things that really sucked, and movies where it’s out of your hands,” Momoa said. “Conan 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***.”

A Challenging Legacy

Conan the Barbarian (2011), directed by Marcus Nispel, was intended to be a reimagining of the 1982 cult classic that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger. The original film, which was inspired by the writings of Robert E. Howard, spawned a 1984 sequel and became a beloved piece of action cinema history. Expectations were high for Momoa’s turn in the role, particularly as it coincided with his breakout performance as Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones that same year.

However, despite the hype, the reboot failed to make an impact. The film grossly underperformed at the box office and currently holds a mere 25% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics were particularly harsh, with The Hollywood Reporter’s Kirk Honeycutt summarizing the film as “numbing and dumb, with its hero indistinguishable from its villains.” Honeycutt also criticized the film’s reliance on excessive violence and questionable eroticism, remarking that it seemed to exist solely for “random blood splattering amid scenes of bondage, primitive savagery, and S and M eroticism.”

What Went Wrong?

While Momoa didn’t delve into specific grievances about what led to the film’s failure, his remarks suggest that creative control may have been a significant issue. It’s not uncommon for actors, especially rising stars, to find themselves trapped in projects that evolve far beyond their original vision. Despite his enthusiasm for the role and the source material, the final product clearly did not meet Momoa’s or the audience’s expectations.

A Learning Experience

Although Conan the Barbarian may not have been the success that Momoa had hoped for, the actor seems to have walked away with valuable experience. His performance in Game of Thrones launched him into international stardom, and he has since become one of Hollywood’s most bankable action stars, with roles in blockbuster films like Aquaman and Dune.

It’s evident that the Conan reboot, despite being one of Momoa’s earlier and more promising projects, ended up being a lesson in how little control actors sometimes have over a film’s final outcome. Fans of the actor, however, have likely long since forgiven the misstep, as Momoa has more than proven his worth as a leading man in action-packed epics.

While Conan the Barbarian may have faded into obscurity, Momoa’s honesty about his experience offers a rare glimpse into the frustrations of working on a major Hollywood production. Despite the film’s failures, Momoa’s career has only continued to rise—proving that sometimes, even the biggest piles of cinematic “s***” can lead to a better path ahead.