The bodybuilding icon, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is famous worldwide for his highly well-defined physique and obviously as The Terminator. The 76-year-old Hollywood actor cum bodybuilder is still in decent shape and that is why he is considered a role model among many health enthusiasts. The name of the seven-time Olympia winner is still now known among his fans for his extreme bodybuilding but nonetheless, he had a great acting career too. In his complete film career, he has appeared in more than forty films and has been a successful producer in many cases.
However even after having such a successful and protracted career he couldn’t land the role of the Marvel hero, The Hulk. It’s been reported that Arnold Schwarzenegger was the first choice in the film The Incredible Hulk (1977) but fell short and it went to his bodybuilding competitor.
Why Arnold Schwarzenegger Couldn’t Land The Role Of A Marvel Hero
The 76-year-old Terminator actor has always been into the roles of action heroes and films like Commando, Predator, and True Lies made him a perfect choice for The Hulk. However, the makers had different plans, and even after coming so close to the role he fell short of landing it. In the span of 46 years, The Hulk has been played by multiple actors, but the stepping stone could have been in the name of the Austrian Hunk.
Back in 1977 when the TV show The Incredible Hulk was in production, Arnold Schwarzenegger became the first choice but only to lose it to his bodybuilding rival Lou Ferrigno. The reason was simple, back in time CGI wasn’t that good, so the casting members were in search of someone who would be both bulk and 6’5” and The Terminator actor lost the race of height. The 7 times Olympia Winner was deemed to be 3 inches shorter, and it became the sole reason that took the Iconic superhero role from him.
The Incredible Hulk film was released in 1977 and the TV series in 1978 ran for around five seasons before ending. Both the film and the TV series starred Bill Bixby as David Banner and Lou Ferrigno as the alter ego, The Hulk of David Banner. The iconic role of Marvel’s Hulk could have been something different for The Terminator actor but looking back at the success he found later is no less.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Missed Another Superhero Role Just Like The Iconic Role Of The Hulk
The makers of The Incredible Hulk (1977) had a different image set in their mind which cost The Austrian bodybuilder his role as the Hulk. But Hulk isn’t the only role that the 76-year-old Hollywood actor missed, there was one more superhero role that was turned down by the Austrian Bodybuilder.
Superman (1978) had Arnold Schwarzenegger as a high priority on their casting list, but he couldn’t make it once again. The Terminator actor later replied when asked by the interviewer about his rejection of the role in an interview with Brian Linehan’s City Light show in the year 1979 that,
“I don’t think I would have said yes because I hate to play myself, you know, and I am Superman. And said if I didn’t want to play, but I was, I was very happy that they dedicated the film to my life story and made a film out of that.”
Later it was revealed that it was Marlon Brando, who played the role of Superman’s father in the Film Superman (1978) didn’t want the Austrian hunk to play the role of Superman. According to him, people wouldn’t have understood his accent, however, things would have been different if the 76-year-old Terminator actor had played the role. Nonetheless, he has earned the badge of success in the Hollywood industry and there is no denying even without the superhero roles he is considered a superhero among his fans.
Source: Essentially Sports, Brian Linehan’s City Light show
