Arnold Schwarzenegger has a five decades-long career in Hollywood, with almost every movie hitting the ball out of the park. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg, given how the Austrian Oak is to date considered to be the greatest bodybuilder of all time. And to further enhance this versatile mix is his term as the Governor of California. Yet, one mention of his name and a cyborg assassin wearing a black leather jacket comes first in our minds.

The actor, now 75 years old, has given the world the evergreen catchphrase “I’ll be back“ and one of the most celebrated science-fiction movies The Terminator. However, he almost declined the opportunity due to one surprising reason.

Why did Arnold Schwarzenegger almost reject Terminator?

The Austrian Oak received applause very early on through his performance in Conan the Barbarian. Yet it was James Cameron’s The Terminator in 1984 that accelerated his career from nadir to pinnacle. But his being cast as the cyborg assassin from the future was never a part of the plan. Firstly, Cameron was looking for someone timid compared to Kyle Reese until he met Schwarzenegger. Secondly, Schwarzenegger was put off by the dearth of his dialogues when James Cameron offered him the role.

The fact that he played the main antagonist and had barely twenty-seven lines over the span of two hours and seventeen minutes did not sit well with him. However, after a lot of coaxing and $75,000 later, he said yes.

Considering the number of dialogues, it is fascinating to see how the role unraveled. Making it memorable was truly the work of a star. But can this star revive the franchise again?

Can the Terminator franchise still become successful?

It was in 1984 that James Cameron first introduced us to his science fiction thriller extravaganza. Furthermore, the first movie made a whopping $80 million at the box office. This success was further mirrored by the second installment of the movie Terminator 2: Judgement Day. Then Cameron decided to bank on it a little too many times.

With an installment of Terminator coming almost every other year, it drove its very dedicated fanbase and icon himself into semantic satiation. But seems like James Cameron will give it another go, with or without Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Do you think the Terminator franchise can work without Arnold Schwarzenegger? Let us know in the comments below.