Jason Momoa Talks Conan

Before flying to Europe to begin filming Conan, Jason Momoa divulged his thoughts on the project to the Des Moines Register.

The first thing Momoa made clear about his training for the remake is that it's definitely intense. "I’m in pain,” he groaned as he took a short break. The six-week training regimen that he's being subjected to began in early February. The stunt and martial arts academy in Los Angeles that runs Momoa's program has him focusing on six hours of sword and fight training daily.

The actor, who already stands at 6 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs 215 pounds, wants to add another 10 pounds of muscle to his frame before shooting begins. He appears to be in capable hands. David Leitch, a Bourne Ultimatum stuntman and Chad Stahelski, the martial arts stunt coordinator for both Matrix sequels are in Momoa's corner to help him achieve that goal. He does feel that he fits the overall physical features of Conan. He even noted that his green eyes can be made blue with contact lenses.

Though Momoa was anxious to garner the role, he had to do his research. He was just a toddler when Arnold Schwarzenegger wielded the 10-pound Cimmerian sword, but he does remember the portrayal, “At the time, it was amazing … It’s got a little ’80s vibe to it."

So what did he do when he received a "blurry script" for the remake? He skipped the movies and went straight to the source material. “I did more research with the books (than the movies), to tell you the truth,” he said. It seems that his choice to focus on Robert E. Howard's 1932 series gave him a better understanding of the character's mindset: “[Conan's] very smart, almost inhumanly strong, and very cunning. His entire life, from the moment of his birth, has been shaped by violence.

"He's not just all muscle; he’s brains and brawn. He eventually becomes king, so he is smart.”

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For the full interview, be sure to follow the link below to The Des Moines Register.