Arnold Schwarzenegger Explains Why ‘The Terminator’ Will Always Be Special to Him
Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the biggest action stars of all time, and even though he is in his seventies, he’s not slowing down. Schwarzenegger’s legendary career has made him a legend, and even though he served as the governor of California, many fans know him best for his work in the iconic The Terminator series.
Now, Schwarzenegger is lighting up the screen in Terminator: Dark Fate, reprising the role that he originated thirty-five years ago. In a recent interview, Schwarzenegger talked about portraying the character again, switching gears to an action-hero state of mind, and why the series will always be special to him.
What is the new ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ movie about?
The Terminator was released in 1984 and capitalized on Schwarzenegger’s newfound fame as a Hollywood action star. The first film in the series also featured Linda Hamilton, in a career-defining role that made her a hero for strong women everywhere.
Then, in 1991, Terminator: Judgment Day premiered, and completely changed the game in terms of Hollywood sequels. Many critics believed that Terminator: Judgment Day, often referred to amongst fans as T2, was actually superior to the first film. Fans have cited the incredible special effects, well-written storyline, and captivating performances by the cast as reasons why T2 stands head and shoulders above the original.
In the years since, there have been several other films in the Terminator franchise that have been released, many to less-than-stellar reviews. Many fans have grown weary of the adaptations and reboots, with good reason.
Still, the latest installment in the series, Terminator: Dark Fate, is proving to be very different than the previous lackluster entries in the series. For one thing, Terminator: Dark Fate is a direct follow-up to the events of T2, and completely ignores all of the films that have come in between. It also has the benefit of the original creative team, including James Cameron as the producer.
Why was Arnold Schwarzenegger persuaded to star in ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’?
With Hamilton on board, all Terminator: Dark Fate needed was the looming presence of Schwarzenegger. By his own account, it didn’t take much to convince Schwarzenegger to rejoin the franchise.
In a recent interview, Schwarzenegger admitted that he’ll always have a soft spot for the character because it got him into action movies. He stated that roles for former bodybuilders with strong accents were few and far between, so playing the Terminator was a very special opportunity.
At 72 years of age, Schwarzenegger still felt as though getting back into character was a piece of cake.
“You put the clothes on, you get into the scene, and you feel like you’ve never really left,” he stated. Schwarzenegger said that he put in even more time at the gym in order to properly prepare for the grueling physical scenes since no one on set would be telling him to “take a nap…like they normally do with elderly people.”
Would Arnold Schwarzenegger appear in another ‘Terminator’ film?
Clearly, his work in Terminator: Dark Fate is paying off for the former governor of California. Fans are loving the film, and although the movie’s ending does seem to draw a definitive conclusion about the fate of the characters, it is always possible that Schwarzenegger could return in some form or fashion to don the iconic costume of his most famous characters. After all, he clearly has a special place in his heart for the franchise that first put him on the Hollywood map.
