That’s the face of the Conan you’ll never see in a movie.
By now you’ve probably seen the images from the set of the new Conan movie. Jason Momoa looks like a cross between Tarzan and Kid Conan, and the general cheesiness has done little to instill hope in the minds of fans. What we’ve ended up with is basically the weakest version of Conan possible, but what would have been the strongest?
I could do a whole series on the trials and tribulations of a new Conan movie over the past few decades; people from John Milius to the Wachowski Bros had their attempts. At a couple of points it got close to happening at Warner Bros; close enough that make-up tests were commissioned. The image you see above is one of those.
The make up was from Prosthetic Renaissance, and it was a pretty big set of appliances – forehead, nostrils, chin, bridge of the nose, wig, even cheeks. The design was, obviously, based on the late Frank Frazetta’s vision for the character, and it’s looks like a painting from the Frazetta archive come alive.
The movie ended up not going this way, and instead we’re going to have a slight, young Conan instead of this grizzled, bad ass one. For now enjoy imagining what could have been.
The concept and design are by Mike Marino, while the graphic design is by Anil Gupta.
UPDATE: Some people don’t believe this is a makeup, which really speaks highly of Mike’s work. He’s supplied us with a shot of the sculpt:
Click on the images for supersized versions of them.
39 comments
love the way Conan is all barbaric and neanderthal looking… but the chick looks like a modern day model… and of course, woman back then had razors or wax…
Fuck that girl is hot. That is all.
Oh man does that hurt! Arrghh! This just makes me so angry. Instead were going to get the WB version. *sigh*
I just found my new background image. 🙂
man thats awesome…i wish they could make a good conan movie more than any comic book movie or film based on a novel…all we have unitl then is the Riddick series
The first image that you specified does not appear to be a photograph of a person wearing prosthetic makeup. It lools more like a painting from the cover of a fantasy novel. It may be preproduction art but I don't believe that it a sample of any "make-up test".
Very nice, Devin. Still, it all depends on what Conan you like. Barry Smith´s looks nothing like the thing you posted. His Cona was young and gracile.
It suggests a 300 treatment. Is this from that time? I have the weirdest feeling I've seen an actor who is very similar looking to that.
It would be nice to see a picture of the model without make-up, just for comparison. Who is it?
@Nick
Dude pick up a history book, women have been shaving and waxing since the Egyptians in 3000BC. Only during the Dark ages did that habit fall out of favor.
Very very appreciable effort, the details of the face are very realistic.
But eyes are too close, and the muscular definition and thickness isn't there. Frame isn't very consistent with the original (pecs for example) Compare with the "Painting with Fire" CGI intro and PLEASE give us a revised version. It's worth it!!
Looking closely at the finished Frazetta-styled image, the two models are real enough, but everything has been comped together and Photoshopped to within an inch of their lives. But he's probably as close as we'll ever come to Frazetta's Conan.
In Howard's stories about young Conan, he wasn't a big skullsmasher, he was a thief and pirate and often practically a cat burglar. I have no problem whatsoever with a movie taking that direction.
How about a NSFW warning man? Seriously!!!
Nice bangs, Conan!
At least they waxed that chicks vagoo.
Ahem – check out the picture on the wall behind the model. The sculpt is based on Frazetta himself.
The chick is an internet porn regular. Google "Totalsupercuties Brandy".
You're welcome.
Why do I get the feeling that most of these comments are positive because this version is NOT going to happen? If this were released as what Conan WILL look like in the upcoming film, I can imagine comments like "Looks like Captain Caveman!" and "This is gonna suck!"
I saw the pictures of Momoa and thought "Oh, look… it's Conan the Chippendale…"
i need to listen to manowar right now.
Conan was 15 when he started cracking skulls, young's not the problem the problem is cheap. Cheap script, cheap production, cheap actors. Get a good franchise going and that above is what Conan can look like when he's 40.
#18 – That, and they're deleting negative comments….
Tony Curtis IS Evelyn Salt
So…any post not singling the praise of this mask gets deleted. Classy guys.
That Conan looks like he's one of those "after" examples on those faces of meth abuse posters.
Obviously half of you aren't frazetta fans.
Ive recently been reading Howard's Conan stories (In a sexy leather bound centenary edition that is a steal for twenty quid.) And they fucking rule. No one writes visceral violence quite like Howard did. Truly exhilarating fiction. Frazetta's Conan is the one I see in my mind when reading, the later set tales. Has anyone seen 'The Whole Wide World?' Interesting if you are a fan and the best Zellwegers ever been.
I think it's very telling that no one has mentioned Arnold's retirement from politics. Yes, we have the WB Conan coming out…but does a more famous Conan stand in the wings, waiting for one last grand adventure?
That chick has a really really long right arm.
Awesome What if… By Crom if only Hollywood understood!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now THAT'S a barbarian! Except he still doesn't look as badass as Frazetta's original.
frazetta had his image of Conan in mind. the moviemakers have their version. that the moviemakers is different from frazetta's is not blasphemy. perhaps they had formulated their own image from reading REH's prose. personally, the caveman image looks terrible.
LOL! Devin, you can't research worth a damn, touting someones Zbrush work as a "make-up test". Better correct your story so you don't look like an ever bigger fool than you do. It's a Computer rendering, and it's pretty lame you can't see that in 5 seconds.
BTW- Why isn't Conan's eyes blue?
Devin I am sorry my son is such a fool and does not know when to keep his ignorant and idiotic mouth shut. His mother and I will speak with him tonight, perhaps spank him and ground him from his barbie colection he is so fond of. I do apologize.
nivek = tool
man that Nivek guy is a major d-bag
actually I know what I am talking about, stop picking on me or I will tell my mommy! I get the same treatment on superherohype for spewing the same knowitallcrap and I don't get it
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