Genndy Tartakovsky is developing a “Conan the Barbarian” series with Cartoon Network Studios and Prime Video – suggesting the animation great is firmly back in the Warner Bros. fold having spent a few years developing features with Sony, returning earlier this year with a new season of “Primal” on Adult Swim.
The announcement was made at an Annecy Studio Focus of Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, a fixture in the Annecy scene hosted this year by the studios’ president, Sam Register, Hanna-Barbera London head Sarah Fell and WBA senior VP for current series Jay Bastian.
“I’ve been trying to develop ‘Conan’ since 2008, but the world was not ready,” Tartakovsky said via a pre-recorded video at the session. “But now, after Adult Swim’s ‘Samurai Jack’ and ‘Primal,’ it’s prime time for this to come to life,” he went on. “I have been so inspired by the books written by Robert E. Howard, whose work I have a personal connection with. So far I feel super excited. This is the only IP I’ve worked on other than ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars,’ and I think it’s going to be something special.”
Tartakovsky’s returning to Cartoon Network is a big deal, having been one of the foundational voices that formed the studio, developing early shows like “Dexter’s Lab” and “Samurai Jack.” “Primal” has been the creator’s one recent outlet for the action-animation he had become renowned for, opting of late for comedies like “Fixed” and “Hotel Transylvania 4: Transformania.” “Conan” could see Genndy let off the leash once again, making this very exciting news for fans.
