After a successful career in bodybuilding, Arnold Schwarzenegger trained with James Cameron for one of the most legendary films of his career, The Terminator. Although the movie later earned widespread acclaim, it was Cameron who had to convince the 7-time Mr. Olympia to take the role.

During his appearance on The Howard Stern Show, when the host asked Schwarzenegger why he refused the role Cameron offered him and wanted to play Kyle Reese instead, he explained.

“I think what happened was a total coincidence because I didn't even try out for Terminator," Schwarzenegger said. "I was trying to be Kyle Reese. And during lunch, when I met with James Cameron, the director, right?"

And then the producer from Hemdale, John Daly, and those guys, I kept talking all the time about the Terminator”.

Although the Austrian Oak did not want to play the role of Terminator, he knew the technicalities the role requires. And that's why Schwarzenegger said to the maker,

“Whoever is playing it, I just want you to be clear. He has to train himself to disassemble weapons and to put weapons and all this stuff blindfolded”.

Apart from that, he said that a Terminator is a machine, which is why the actor needs to walk and look like one.

And after seeing the excitement, Cameron said, “So why don't you play Terminator? I mean, you understand him so well, this character. This is exactly what we need.”

But because the role had only 127 lines and Schwarzenegger wanted to talk more on screen, he refused it.

However, Cameron promised that the 7-time Mr. Olympia would make this character a hero, and we all know how successful this movie was and how it changed Schwarzenegger’s career.

Although Schwarzenegger ultimately took the role, there was a time during filming when Cameron and Schwarzenegger engaged in a verbal clash.

The 'I'll Be Back' Disagreement: When Cameron and Schwarzenegger Clashed on Set

During filming, specifically while shooting the legendary one-liner "I'll be back," Schwarzenegger suggested it might sound better if he said, “I will.”

However, during the 2023 interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Schwarzenegger said that, for Cameron, it was not good, and he said:

“Are you the scriptwriter now? Don’t tell me how to write. I don’t tell you how to act.”

The bodybuilder bit back at James Cameron. He pointed out that Cameron told him how to act throughout the filming.

So, Schwarzenegger’s knowledge of the Terminator character and Cameron’s trust in the Austrian Oak's potential made the role memorable for fans.

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Written by

Supradeep Dutta