Earlier in the week, word was that the casting for the main role in Marcus Nispel's upcoming new Conan the Barbarian epic was down to just three contenders, the third of whom was a mysteriously unnamed "established" actor. That third man has now been outed, and the shortlist can be (reasonably) safely revealed.
In the blue corner is Jason Momoa: the dreadlocked Hawaiian best known as the badass "melee warrior" Ronan Dex in Stargate Atlantis.
In the red corner is Kellan Lutz, who was most recently seen as the vampire Emmett Cullen in Twilight and New Moon.
And in news broken by his own fansite (which we hope is actually accurate and not just wishful thinking), in the I've-worked-with-Marcus-Nispel-before corner is Jared Padalecki, star of TV's Supernatural and last year's Friday The 13th.
Clearly the new film is skewing young, which isn't actually necessarily heresy: Robert E. Howard's original stories span Conan's life from when he was a young thief to when he finally wore the jewelled crown of Aquilonia upon a troubled brow. But for anyone (ie most people) for whom Conan is irrevocably Arnie, any of the above three will be a wrench.
Of the three, Momoa is perhaps the one who'd be most at home in a Frank Frazetta painting (check out this clip if he's an unfamiliar name). And we can just about, if we squint, see Padalecki in the role. - although apparently he may be unavailable, since filming clashes with his wedding. Lutz also has the muscles and has gone on the record saying that he'd love to bulk up for the role.
Frankly, in other words, we have no idea who's right for the role. That's why they have casting directors to take these difficult decisions out of our hands.
Shooting is scheduled to begin in March in Bulgaria. You'll know who's on set as soon as we do. In the meantime, who would you prefer?