Arnold Schwarzenegger lifted more than just weights; he carried the entire action movie industry. Leveraging that, the 'Austrian Oak' secured a deal for Terminator 3 that most actors cannot even float.

A decade after Terminator 2, the franchise proposed a sequel. The twist? James Cameron wasn't chairing the director's seat this time. That was an immediate no for Schwarzenegger.

However, Cameron suggested the bodybuilder use his influencer as a bargaining chip to check the studio's resolve. As per WhatCulture, the deal was a bold ask of a $30 million pay-or-play contract, ensuring his fee whether the film hit the studios or not.

Moreover, beyond the lump-sum fee, Terminator's T-800 negotiated additional perks, including $3 million on signing, $1.6 million for each week of production delays, $1.5 million for private jets, and a round-the-clock security and limousine access.

What seems like an over-the-top extravagant deal was ultimately finalized, albeit 18 months of negotiation and 21 drafts later. Warner Bros. Pictures said yes to every single contract term, with Jonathan Mostow directing the sequel.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines hit US theatres on July 2, 2003, grossing $433 million worldwide, although trailing its prequel by $520 million.

While this instalment was far from Schwarzenegger's greatest hit, it still demonstrates how star power translates into leverage and commands authority, whether it's securing a pick of the crop contract or reviving a long-lost franchise.

Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to cinemas as King Conan

Almost 45 years following Conan the Barbarian, no one expected the regal hero to pick up the sword again.

But here we are, after decades of production and copyright complications, Schwarzenegger has confirmed the third sequel of the franchise, King Conan.

Oscar-winning screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie is set to write and direct the film. Teasing the sequel on Arnold Sports Festival, Columbus, Ohio, Schwarzenneger shared, "It’s a great story where Conan was [king for] 40 years, and he gets complacent, and now he gets forced out of the kingdom, slowly."

Clearly, the king of action movies is setting yet another precedent, this time in the world of fantasy.

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Written by

Proma Chatterjee

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil