The character Red Sonja was a popular comic book character before she hit the silver screen in 1985. She was originally created in 1973 by writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith for Marvel comics, but the inspiration for her character came from 1930s pulp-fiction writer Robert E. Howard. He created two heroes, Red Sonya of Rogatino and Dark Agnes de Chastillon. The former being a swordswoman in 16th century France, and the latter a gunslinger with a grudge against the Turkish Sultan.
The Red Sonja we know and love resides in the fictional pre-historic world of the Hyborian Age, which means she often shares the spotlight with another famous character from comic books, Conan the Barbarian. A Red Sonja movie has been in the works for years, slowly plodding through development and adaptation purgatory, but some recent news about casting bodes well for the production. One of the persistent questions about the movie is whether or not Conan will appear, and the debate continues as to whether he actually should.
10 Shouldn't Appear: It's Sonja's Movie
A mention would probably be sufficient as opposed to an actual appearance, and given that Conan already has some exposure in both live-action and animated media, let's not crowd the frame too much. There's plenty for viewers to watch Sonja do and without the writers or casting director burdened by an extra character just for the sake of dropping a name.
It's not that Marvel hasn't demonstrated that they can handle a big cast, but Red Sonja doesn't have the same clout as a franchise, at least not yet.
9 Should Appear: Because Schwarzenegger
When there's talk of Conan appearing in the movie, the assumption is that means Schwarzenegger. Jason Momoa was more than decent in the role he played in the 2011 Conan movie, but that was the remake that nobody asked for and most fans don't even bother to see it.
This can have a number of possibilities even though he obviously isn't going to be doing any complex action scenes, but given the magic of CGI to de-age certain actors, there are still a number of roles he could take. Writers and producers might even forgo the CGI and entertain the possibility of Conan appearing in his advanced years as the King of Sumeria.
8 Shouldn't Appear: Tuxedo Mask Effect
Anyone who watches Sailor Moon knows what this means. The formula for shows or movies starring female characters still has to include a man somewhere, even if he doesn't do anything. Enter Tuxedo Mask, the famously useless male character, and also the main love interest of the show.
If Conan appeared in Red Sonja's movie, there's a good chance he'd fall into a similar trap if the writers were lazy or the director was uninspired. He'd be there because audiences might expect him to be but he would be a boring character with nothing to do otherwise.
7 Should Appear: Cameos Are Fun
The bonfire may be ebbing, but the torch for nostalgia will never burn out. It's not just the early movies from the 1980s that people look back to, but also the classic comic books that date from the 1970s and to the pulp fiction of days long gone.
The original Conan and Red Sonja books were pulp fiction novels that date from the 1930s and they also have their dedicated fan following. Seeing these characters, and that means all of them, translated for the silver screen is thrilling when it's done right.
6 Shouldn't Appear: The Story Doesn't Need Him...
Red Sonja first appeared in comic book form in 1973, and in the beginning, she was a Marvel character. Dynamite Comics has been publishing a series about her since 2005 and they still continue to the present day.
It's safe to assume that a few of these stories include Conan, but there are plenty that don't. There's a lot to keep Sonja busy without adding Conan to the story just for an easy stab at name recognition, pardon the pun.
5 Should Appear: ...Or Does It?
The story might be better with the addition of Conan depending on how the writers handle the script. There might be a way to strike a balance between the grand recognition of Conan's name, which the studio will no doubt be pushing, and making the story more about him than Sonja.
Fans and viewers might be more interested in the story if a character they know and recognize from elsewhere is involved. Even if the connection is more out of curiosity than emotion, it might be better than putting a total stranger in their place.
4 Shouldn't Appear: Marketing Will Screw It Up
Looking at the original poster, you'd think this was a movie about Conan anyway, the way his image is dominating most of the space compared to Sonja. People would just get angry if they were misled into thinking this was a Conan movie but everyone can see the marketing department making that fatal mistake.
The last anyone saw Conan in comic book form, he was hanging out with the X-Men and floating through space, which might be a bit too fantastic for those that know the old movies. Viewers are expecting a Red Sonja movie to be more grounded and gritty like its classic predecessor.
3 Should Appear: It's Great For Publicity
The marketing department will be torn up by this one. There are a lot of decent arguments for not including Conan in the movie in any way, shape, or form, but really, how can they avoid it? Blame Arnold Schwarzenegger for taking a chance early in his career and doing so well that he defined the character as his own for a generation.
Fans who are familiar with the comic books know Red Sonja first appeared in Conan the Barbarian #23 and will be expecting to see Conan in some form in the movie. Big production companies make movies for everyone, however, not just comic book fans. For those who only know Red Sonja from the movie, he's not needed or expected.
2 Shouldn't Appear: The Conan Character Is Played Out
The flip side of using name recognition to market a movie is that the audience might be tired of seeing a character and the tactic backfires. In the past 30 years, Conan has moved well beyond comic books and movies. Since then he's appeared in games of all kinds, from tabletop to MMO, as well as inspiring a whole genre of media based on the same visceral sword and sorcery aesthetic.
There was some discussion of a third Conan movie just a few years ago, but interest fizzled out partly because the public wasn't as interested in the character. The poorly-received 2011 remake is also an indication that maybe Conan's name isn't as trendy as a property anymore.
1 Should Appear: He's Conan The Barbarian, That's Why
The public relations people don't really care for Conan. They'll put them in their movie because of the fans. Conan is one of those unapologetic characters that doesn't respond to protocol and niceties and fans love that about him. Just try and tell him that he can't be in Red Sonja's movie, and how is he going to respond?
Maybe she can only allow men on set who have defeated her in combat, a challenge our favorite Barbarian would be compelled to accept.