James Cameron Threatened to Take His 1 Movie to Another Studio if He Didn’t Get His Second Favorite Arnold After Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger is certainly one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, whose claim to fame was through his iconic role in the Terminator franchise. Action became his signature genre, defining several years of his illustrious career. With that said, James Cameron threatened to take one movie to another studio if he did not get his second favorite Arnold after Arnold Schwarzenegger.
However, replicating the success he got from Terminator 2 proved impossible for him. This is because his next movie Last Action Hero, received criticism and underperformed at the box office, overshadowed by the success of Jurassic Park.
James Cameron Almost Took One Of His Major Movies To Another Studio If His Second Favorite Arnold Wasn’t In It
After the success of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, James Cameron insisted on casting Tom Arnold in True Lies despite resistance from 20th Century Fox. Cameron was adamant about Arnold for the role of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s comedic sidekick, causing consternation among studio executives who considered him a tabloid distraction.
While speaking on the James Cameron: An Oral History podcast, Tom Arnold revealed that James Cameron threatened to take the film to Paramount, prompting Fox to relent. Arnold delivered a humorously ingratiating performance, solidifying his place as a sought-after character actor and overcoming initial skepticism from the studio.
“He went in there and said ‘We found the third guy after Arnold and Jamie Lee’ … And he said, ‘It’s Tom Arnold.’ And they’re like, ‘That’s horrible news!’ Jim said, ‘No, I don’t read the tabloids. But I wrote this and he is the guy.’”
It is very hard to say no to James Cameron, especially when he was truly at the very top of his game back in the 90s. Nonetheless, Tom Arnold will forever appreciate what James Cameron did for him and that is all that matters.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Iconic ‘I’ll Be Back’ Line Is Still A Major Part Of Pop Culture
Certain movie lines transcend their original context, and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s delivery of “I’ll Be Back” in the first Terminator movie stands as one of cinema’s most iconic moments. This phrase has become synonymous with the action movie genre and is a massive part of pop culture in general.
Featured in the 1984 science fiction classic directed by James Cameron, the line, spoken by Schwarzenegger’s ruthless cyborg character, serves as a defining moment in the actor’s career. It symbolizes the Terminator’s unwavering determination to accomplish his lethal job no matter who tries to stop him.
Delivered with the kind of cold, machine-like demeanor that only the Austrian star could nail, the line reflects the emotionless nature of the character. Interestingly, this iconic moment wasn’t originally intended to be delivered as fans now recognize it, as is the case for most iconic things from the 80s.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, James Cameron shared insights into the creation of the iconic line “I’ll be back” in Terminator, revealing that the original script read, “I’ll come back.” Cameron explained that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Austrian accent influenced the change, suggesting “I’ll be back” instead.
