No Arnold in sight, but that doesn’t mean they can’t bring Red Sonja back to the big screen, right? Right? Yeah, it’s definitely not the reboot you expected, but this year will bring us a new version of the 1985 adaptation starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Brigitte Nielsen.
The 2025 reboot stars Matilda Lutz — who knocked her leading role in Coralie Faraget’s debut feature Revenge out of the park — and just debuted a trailer, below, that some fans are saying feels a bit schlocky. “How does it look like it's both cheap BUT still wastes money?” one YouTube user wrote in the comments.
Several other fans agreed. “This is the most 2009 - 2011 thing I've ever seen,” another user said, while another hilariously quipped: “Since when did the SyFy channel go mainstream?” A third commenter summed up the vibe: “This looks like the most expensive B-movie ever.”
Another affectionate fan said what many folks are probably thinking. “This looks terrible,” they wrote. “I love it!”
Other fans are happy the reboot — which is directed by MJ Bassett, who helmed the underrated Megan Fox film Rogue a few years back — is actually happening. “This movie was originally scheduled to be released 15 years ago. I'm just glad it's finally been made,” another user gushed, while one person noted, “I remember when this was supposed to be a Robert Rodriguez joint.” Rodriguez did have a version of the film in the works back in 2008 with Rose McGowan set to star in the title role, but by the following year that version had been scrapped.
Some are stoked on the project — or at least willing to give it a shot — purely from a nostalgia standpoint. “Brigitte Nielsen will always be Red Sonja for me, but this looks fun. A nice, hack and slash, sword and sandals movie? I'm there,” one fan excitedly wrote, while another brought up what would’ve been a cool casting choice. “The only thing that would make me more excited would be if Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s son was playing his character,” they wrote.
“As a 90s baby, I remember watching Red Sonja with Brigitte Nielsen and Arnold,” yet another fan gushed in the comments section of the trailer. “I will be watching for nostalgia if nothing.” A separate user agreed, noting, “I was a teenager when the original came out. This looks like great B movie fun.”
However, not everyone is super on board with the film, which also stars Skins alum Luca Pasuqalino and Misfits favorite Robert Sheehan.
“What took Hollywood so long to finally make a Red Sonja movie?” one fan questioned in the YouTube comments. “This should’ve been made at least 10 years ago. As a 90s baby, I remember/recognize Red Sonja but I can’t imagine any of the youngins today knowing who this is or even caring.”
Another fan highlighted discrepancies between the comic source material and the trailer. “This looks like a Red Sonja movie made by people who don't get Red Sonja or the word she shares with Conan,” they wrote. “Gail Simone's recent book was right there, and it would have been a fantastic source for a movie... This looks disappointing.”
The film’s official synopsis reads: “Enslaved by an evil tyrant who wishes to destroy her people, barbarian huntress Red Sonja must unite a group of unlikely warriors to face off against Dragan The Magnificent and his deadly bride, Dark Annisia.”
Red Sonja will be released in theaters on August 15, with a streaming date set for August 29.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
