Arnold Schwarzenegger could be revisiting three of the most celebrated chapters of his action-film career, with Predator, Commando 2 and King Conan progressing as potential new instalments in their respective franchises. The 79-year-old actor discussed all three projects during his November 11 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, revealing that work on their scripts is underway. The developments have renewed the possibility of seeing Schwarzenegger reprise Major Alan ‘Dutch’ Schaefer, Colonel John Matrix and Conan, three characters that helped establish his reputation as one of Hollywood’s biggest action stars. The projects also bring together notable creative connections, particularly with Dan Trachtenberg involved in discussions surrounding Predator and Christopher McQuarrie attached to write and direct King Conan for 20th Century Studios.
What makes these developments particularly interesting is the different cinematic worlds these characters inhabit. One introduced audiences to a technologically advanced extraterrestrial hunter, another delivered one of the most recognisable rescue missions in action cinema, while the third established Schwarzenegger as a formidable fantasy-film protagonist. Their stories have remained part of popular film culture for decades, and the proposed follow-ups offer an opportunity to explore what happened to these characters after their original adventures. Although the projects are at different stages of development, their progress suggests that Hollywood is once again considering the return of some of Schwarzenegger’s most recognisable screen identities.
The Predator franchise has continued expanding through several instalments, but the return of Dutch Schaefer would reconnect the series with its original film. Directed by John McTiernan, the 1987 film followed an elite military rescue team sent into a Central American jungle, where their mission took a terrifying turn after they encountered an extraterrestrial creature hunting them one by one. Combining military action, suspense and science fiction, the film became a landmark of the genre. Its distinctive creature design and the confrontation between Dutch and the Predator also helped establish a franchise that has continued across films and other media.
Interestingly, the creature audiences eventually saw was not the original design. Jean-Claude Van Damme was initially hired to portray the Predator in an early costume, but the design did not work for the production. The filmmakers subsequently brought in legendary special-effects artist Stan Winston, who developed the creature’s distinctive appearance, with Kevin Peter Hall performing inside the final suit. The redesigned Predator went on to become one of cinema’s most recognisable science-fiction creatures, helping give the franchise an identity that has endured across generations.
The franchise’s recent success under filmmaker Dan Trachtenberg has also brought Dutch back into the conversation. Following Prey, Predator: Killer of Killers and Predator: Badlands, Trachtenberg has expressed interest in bringing Schwarzenegger into another instalment. Dutch also made an animated appearance in Predator: Killer of Killers, reconnecting the character with the franchise after decades away from its live-action films. Discussions surrounding a potential new film could extend that connection into another feature-length adventure, although the project’s final story and production details remain to be established.
Meanwhile, Commando 2 would revisit one of Schwarzenegger’s most memorable action roles. In Mark L. Lester’s 1985 film Commando, Schwarzenegger portrayed retired special forces colonel John Matrix, whose daughter is kidnapped, forcing him into a relentless mission to bring her home. The film became particularly popular for its large-scale action sequences, physical stunts and Matrix’s almost unstoppable determination. Its straightforward rescue premise, combined with Schwarzenegger’s screen presence and the film’s memorable action set pieces, helped make it a defining entry in the actor’s action-film career.
Unlike Predator, however, Commando never received a direct theatrical sequel. Schwarzenegger revealed in March 2026 that the studio had approached him with a screenplay for Commando 2, bringing the long-discussed continuation closer to becoming a serious development. The latest discussion places the project alongside the other potential franchise returns, although further details about its screenplay, director, supporting cast and production schedule have not been announced in the supplied information.
The most established creative direction among the three projects belongs to King Conan. Schwarzenegger first played the legendary warrior in John Milius’ Conan the Barbarian (1982), followed by Richard Fleischer’s Conan the Destroyer (1984). Based on the stories created by Robert E. Howard, Conan became one of the defining fantasy characters of Schwarzenegger’s early film career. A planned third instalment, Conan the Conqueror, never reached the screen, leaving the character’s cinematic journey without the continuation originally envisioned.
Now, Christopher McQuarrie, known for writing and directing several Mission: Impossible films starring Tom Cruise, is attached to take the character forward. The proposed story follows Conan after 40 years of ruling his kingdom. Having grown comfortable on the throne, the ageing king faces an attempt to overthrow him and must fight his way back to power. This gives the proposed sequel a different perspective on the warrior, shifting the focus from his rise and early adventures to the challenges confronting an older ruler. The story is expected to involve battles, magic, violence and mythical creatures, retaining the fantasy elements associated with the character while placing him in a new stage of his life.
With three distinct franchises at different stages of development, Schwarzenegger’s possible return to these roles represents a notable moment for action and fantasy cinema. Dutch’s encounter with the Predator, John Matrix’s unfinished story and Conan’s struggle to reclaim his kingdom each offer a different reason for audiences to revisit these worlds. The projects also bring together filmmakers with established experience in action filmmaking and franchise storytelling, although their eventual direction will depend on the scripts and production decisions still to come.
For a generation that grew up watching Predator, Commando and Conan the Barbarian, the prospect of seeing Schwarzenegger return to all three characters is significant. Each role helped define a different aspect of his career, from science-fiction action and military spectacle to sword-and-sorcery fantasy. Whether all three projects eventually reach production remains to be seen, but their renewed development puts some of the actor’s most enduring screen characters back into focus.