Arnold Schwarzenegger could have started his Hollywood career playing another legendary film hero - Flash Gordon.
Long before “Star Wars” and “Star Trek” took the world by storm, Flash Gordon was one of the most famous heroes in space. The character was created in the 1930s by Alex Raymond for the comic book of the same name, which soon received serialized films, novels and toys. Flash Gordon inspired a whole generation of future directors, including George Lucas.
Ironically, Lucas made Star Wars precisely because he couldn’t get the rights to Flash Gordon. Instead, he sparked a new wave of interest in science fiction. Films like The Black Hole, Moonraker, and Star Trek: The Motion Picture were all released in 1979, capitalizing on the genre’s newfound popularity, while director Mike Hodges was tasked with creating a new version of Flash Gordon.
When producer Dino De Laurentiis launched a major search for an actor to play the title character, Schwarzenegger felt he was the perfect fit. After the positive reactions to the film “Stay Hungry” and a period of professional bodybuilding, he saw Flash Gordon as the perfect opportunity to launch his Hollywood career.
However, De Laurentiis was known for his difficult character and was not impressed with Schwarzenegger when they met. The role eventually went to Sam Jay. However, the film failed to capitalize on the popularity that Star Wars had brought to science fiction. Audiences were more drawn to the sophisticated and modernized world that Lucas had created, while Flash Gordon seemed kitschy and outdated by comparison.
De Laurentiis and Schwarzenegger found themselves at the same table again when he decided to revive another classic pulp fiction hero - Conan the Barbarian. The film was directed by John Milius, a longtime friend of Lucas. According to Schwarzenegger, De Laurentiis was much nicer to him at the time, and the two eventually became friends.
"It became a great relationship. I learned a lot from him," Schwarzenegger said.
The film “Conan the Barbarian” became a huge hit and solidified Schwarzenegger’s position in Hollywood. His strength and build made him almost perfect for the character, but he also showed the authority needed to play the prehistoric hero. Although there were other attempts to revive the epic fantasy genre during the 1980s, none managed to repeat the success achieved by Schwarzenegger and De Laurentiis.
The two collaborated again on the sequel “Conan the Destroyer,” as well as the somewhat neglected action thriller “Raw Deal.” De Laurentiis also originally had the rights to “Total Recall,” which was supposed to star Schwarzenegger, but the rights were later transferred to another studio, with Paul Verhoeven chosen to direct. The film was released in 1990.
However, there is no doubt that Conan is still one of Schwarzenegger's most famous roles. He is expected to return to the role in the upcoming sequel "King Conan," which will be written and directed by Christopher McVeigh.
Flash Gordon has not received a successful remake to date, despite numerous failed attempts over the years.
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