[UPDATE: It has been confirmed that we will be seeing a CGI version of Arnold in the film.]
Last week Screen Rant reported on the status of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s possible cameo in the upcoming sci-fi blockbuster Terminator Salvation. The Governator’s involvement with T4 has been looking increasingly doubtful, considering that it’s already mid-April, the film is just over a month away, and his cameo hasn’t even been locked down yet (better get on that one, McG…).
In a recent webcast interview, Schwarzenegger talked about his proposed cameo in Salvation. One bit of info he gave was pretty conflicting: he said he met with the director (McG) and agreed to be in the film, so long as he didn’t have to perform.
I’m sorry, Arnie… what?…
Turns out Schwarzenegger was referring to the question of whether or not it would be actually him who appeared in the film, or just his face, which McG has said he wanted to superimpose over the body of T-800 Terminator model using CGI. That technological leap would allow the Governator to appear in the movie without, you know… actually appearing in the movie. Here’s what “Ahnuld” had to say:
“I made it very clear that I don’t have the time to do the movie… I said that I would be willing to be in the movie if they get the technology together, and so they are working on that right now.”
He also gave his thoughts on the overall idea of adding to the existing franchise, as well as his future therein:
“I think it’s cool to continue on with the franchise … in case I want to jump over again and get into the acting after I’m through here.”
It appears that although Schwarzenegger doesn’t want to act right now (mainly because he doesn’t have the time because of the current position he holds) that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be open to the idea of returning to the acting profession once his term in office runs out in about two years time. He does mention it in the above quote, so I think we can color the possibility of seeing him on-screen in more than just a cameo at some point in the future as quite likely.
Last week we learned that the scene where Arnie’s face would appear would be a fight scene with a naked T-800 (who, of course, was his character in the first three movies). In it we would mostly see him from the back, presumably to hide the fact that it’s not actually him (instead it will be Roland Kickinger taking his place).
It seems that they are trying everything they can to get Arnie in there for a cameo, just as a teasing Easter-egg to movie buffs everywhere. Does it really matter if Arnie’s in there? Not really, but it would be very cool. If it isn’t a case of the cameo disrupting the story and is rather just a little added bonus appearance then I see no problem with it.
Slap a Schwarzenegger face on this ‘bot and we’re good to go!
As for how they’re going to have him in there, I am very much for employing the technology needed to impose him rather than actually have him in there in person. Schwarzenegger is 62 years old this year, and that, coupled with the fact he’s been out of the movie game for five years now, means he won’t be in the same condition physically as he used to be. Even in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines he was pushing it.
With an approximate $200 million budget, I’m sure that they can find a technological way to get Arnie in T4, one way or another. I think we would all agree that it would be very cool to see him back on-screen again, no matter what role he took, but even cooler to see him as the badass machine we all know and love.
What do you think of Schwarzenegger possibly making a cameo in Terminator Salvation? Would you rather have him appear in person, or is the GGI route the better way to go?
Terminator Salvation opens on May 21st in the US and on June 3rd in the UK this year.
Source: LA Times
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Arnie looked the exact same in T3 as he did in T2. I remember leaving the theater with friends and we all remarked at how good he looked considering the time that had passed since T2. So I’m not sure what your definition of “pushing it” means…
Just cgi him in there. Can’t be that difficult.
Or just use a flashback.
it really doesnt matter to me if they put his face on a terminator or not, i mean it seems kinda of a waste of money to just do that, but i can understand for them doing this for continuity
@SmartAss,
I don’t necessarily mean he LOOKED different, but just his physical condition to be able to do the things needed i.e. all the action sequences, running around, fighting etc.
What Arnold first said that it would be wise to not use his likeness, it is kinda great but really what is the point?
Arnold better come back to the movies! King Conan, Crusade and True Lies 2 are WAITING TO GO!!!
“Dana, JUMP, I’ll catch you!”
sk 47,
i would love to see a “true lies” sequel, the first was great aside from the whole “im gonna forget about terrorists and follow my wife” scenes
When’s Arnold’s term over? Can he get reelected?
nah dude, that added to the whole experience, and later the plot of his wife finding out who he is really.
“true lies” still has the best death scene(imo) for a villian, you know where “the terrorist” lands on the missile then “arnold’s character” fires it into a helicoptor.
I think it’ll be cool to have Arnold’s likeness in the movie, but it’s totally unnecessary to make the movie good.
Matt K,
yes, with the greatest line…”You’re Fired.”
Matt K, it’s more as a treat for the fans than it is for the actual story or continuity. It’ll be cool to see Arnold’s likeness in the film.
When people say that Arnold IS the Terminator, it’s more than just a sentiment. Originally Lance Henrikson (Bishop from Aliens and the Detective from Terminator) was supposed to play the Terminator and Arnold was supposed to play the human sent back to protect Sarah Connor. So the Terminator endoskeleton was designed to be a “standard” sized skeleton, like an average joe sized person like Lance Henrikson. Well, Arnold told Cameron that he would rather play the villain instead, and I guess Cameron agreed to avoid a fight with a 300 pound body builder, lol, just kidding.
Anyway, so the Terminator was actually modeled after his exact dimensions. So technically, Arnold IS the Terminator, the Terminator IS Arnold. So it seems for me that having Arnold or at least his likeness in a Terminator film is only appropriate.
“Can he get reelected?”
Two term limit and this is his second.
Never really understood the point of having ever damn T-800 look like Arnold. The whole point of them was to infiltrate.
What good would it be to produce 2000 etc Arnold T-800 models.
Conner ~ “Oh look that guy looks the same as the other 5 we just killed, mmm i wonder why?”
If we see Arnold’s head along with 30 other different faces in a production Que than I’m cool with it.
All Arnold has to do is get most of his muscle mass back – if Stallone can do it so can Arnold. The problem is that unlike Sly, Arnold has had heart problems, supposedly due to genetic problems but i find it hard to believe that he got through a genetic flaw what the other bodybuilders tend to get from steroid use, so he may be afraid to get back into the Testosterone. There’s Growth Hormone of course, but you still have to work out like an animal and that may be too scary for him given the heart problem. As for fitness he really doesnt need much as insurance contracts prevent stars from doing anything dangerous so most stunts are out of the question. WHen it comes to fight scenes they are shot in slow motion and sped up for the screen. And then theres all the resting the actors get during lighting setups and whole days off when other people’s scenes are being shot. Directors need endurance, actors just need patience.
Thanks Michael Claymore
He just might start acting again, at least judging by his recent comments.
But would we want to see Arnold as anything but an action hero? With CGI and Stunt Doubles it can be done, but the quality will definitely suffer, which sucks.
You know if people keep calling him the Governator there will be a Hollywood feature film tilted that. Did he copyright that phrase yet?
I’ve said all along that if they use Roland to fully play the Arnold model (101) people wouldn’t have a problem with it.
In battle fight scenes Roland’s facial features look just like a young (Terminator 1) Arnold. To the point that it would look even better than CGI. He also huge.
Check out the “Son of the Beach” vol 1 & 2.on dvd. He had a starring role in that show. Guy looks acts talks just like Arnold.
^
Also Ken is correct, its true Arnold’s body was the template for the original Endoskelton. Same with the facial skull features. That endo you have up there Ross looks nothing like the Arnold model (101). The Heads too small. If anything it looks like a good video game rendition.
Anyway, this film is going to have to have a compelling story that performs way above my expectations. At this point I’m not on board with the Marcus character. This film will need more than cameos from Hamilton and Schwarzenegger to impress me. Having Bale in the film does nothing for me as well, I’m sick of him professionally.
There was a scene in “The Terminator” where Kyle had a flashback of a terminator that had infiltrated a resistance base where Kyle was. It was a T-800 model supposedly and the actor was similar in body structure to that of Arnold’s but a different face of course.
I think that having a cameo of Arnold would only be necessary if it leads to him being transported back to 1984.
@ NHOZ
Very true, Cameron even remarked at how unrealistic it was to have Arnold back in T2 but said that it HAD to be done for the fans to want to watch it. And I agree, that was one time where realism was sacrificed to a good end.
That idea where a bunch of “skinned” Terminators would be there, hopefully not “activated” yet, and just one of them looks like Arnold.
But it would be weird for him to find “model 101″ (Arnold face model) in this one when Robert Patrick won’t be in it until at least the next one, because isn’t the story that they see Skynet sending another Terminator (the T1000) back in time and they find the model 101, reprogram him, and then sent him back in time?
Maybe he’ll see it now, take it back to camp, and then when they time comes that they see the time travel machine, he sends the reprogrammed model 101 back in time to protect himself??
Oops, meant to say I like that idea of a bunch of skinned Terminators… left out a few words there…
In the T2 novel, Kyle Reese and the Terminator from T2 were sent back to back. First Kyle then the Terminator.
I don’t want to see an old Schwarzenegger face on an Endo. How lame can that be !!!
Use Roland !!!
i imagine a scene similar to the last resident evil movie, a factory with 100′s if not thousands of terminatorsas the camera pans out, and they all look like arnold. or if not that, then perhaps just arnold as an old man captured by terminators sitting in a cell, and a voice over tells us the machines start “skinning” humans in order cover their robots…similar to the capture of alison in TSCC…
He is to old McG, Summer Glau as Cameron aka Allison Yung for terminator 5&6.
No keep The Governator for all Terminator films and see the real story of how he gunned his way to the position of Governator of California.
WOOT ARNOLD!!
To what Kazuya has said, Arnold’s T-800 is Model 101. Meaning, there is a 102, 103, 104…there really is no need for Arnold’s likeness in this film.
And to what Ken J has said about Henrikson, yes Lance was initially the Terminator and Arnold was the human sent back. Cameron even did a mock painting of Henrikson as the now famous Half Face/Half Skull look. But when Cameron put the two together on-screen then he saw the major flaw. How can Henrikson go after at the time the 6’2 300 Mr. Olympia? Then he switched the roles, I don’t think it was that Arnold told Cameron he should play the T-800. Unless I am trully mistaken which means, tonight it’s time to revisit The Terminator on DVD and check the spec.features!
I think it was during an interview or a featurette or something. I remember the story being that Cameron and Arnold sat down for lunch to discuss the movie, and Arnold expressed that he wants to be the villain, not the protagonist. And because of that conversation Cameron changed the story to fit that. Of course, the thing I saw or read could be wrong too, lol.