Open casting call for Conan role, plus Brett Ratner won’t be directing after all

According to Empire Magazine, producers of the upcoming Conan reboot film, will be holding open casting calls for the lead role, as soon as a director for the project is finalized.

Producer Joe Gatta says that, “We’ll have an open casting call: as soon as we hire our director the search is on.”

Gatta also told the magazine that there’s a potential start date for Conan of August 24, 2009, and they’ll be shooting in Bulgaria. The focus of producers is on the Conan project, although they are also working on the Red Sonja film, which may begin lensing next year.

The producer also says that Brett Ratner, who’s been in discussions about directing the movie for the past six months, has timing conflicts, and as of now, is off the project.

“We all wanted him to do it, believe me; just the timing didn’t work. But you never know what can happen.”

The new Conan will tell the continuing tales of the Cimmerian and his adventures across the continent of Hyboria.

Below is a trailer for the original 1982 cult classic Conan the Barbarian.