On the morning of September 11, 2001, "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane was rushing to the airport.
He was booked on American Airlines Flight 11.
But he had been out drinking the night before and woke up hungover. To make things worse, his travel agent had given him the wrong departure time.
By the time he reached the gate, the doors had closed ten minutes earlier.
Frustrated, he booked the next flight, found a seat in the lounge, and fell asleep. When he woke up, the world had completely changed.
He looked up at the television screens and saw the towers burning in New York City.
The flight he had been so angry to miss had been hijacked. It was the first plane to hit the World Trade Center, crashing into the North Tower. Every single person on board was killed.
MacFarlane was 27. He has said he does not see it as fate or a sign, just a coincidence that happened to save his life.
He was not the only one. Actor Mark Wahlberg was also booked on Flight 11 that morning, and changed his plans at the last minute.
King Conan is coming, or at least that is what they are saying.
Arnold is back. McQuarrie is down to write and direct. 20th Century has the deal.
They want to start shooting in 2027. Older Conan, years on the throne, closer to Unforgiven than to a young man with a sword.
That is the version I have in my head from what they have actually said.I am excited and I am worried in the same breath.
Conan the Barbarian from 1982 is a masterpiece to me. I do not want to walk into the new one already measuring it against Milius and that score.
I might be setting myself up for a disappointment I invented. The honest plan is to watch it with no expectations and let it be its own film. The '82 one is safe. It does not need me to guard it.