As much as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s portrayal in James Cameron’s brainchild, The Terminator became iconic and was etched in the pages of the history of cinema, he wasn’t the initial selection for the job. In fact, Cameron strongly opposed casting the actor to the point of being prepared to confront Orion Pictures. Yet, Schwarzenegger’s irresistible charisma swayed the director’s stance. Of course, his charm wasn’t the only factor at play; the actor also had to buy them lunch to influence a decision that would ultimately catapult him to unimaginable heights of fame.
Thus, during a 1991 interview, director James Cameron recollected the actor’s approach that not only won his heart but also swiftly dismantled his sinister scheme, all over the course of a single meal.
James Cameron’s Evil Plan to Reject Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger was first shortlisted for playing the protagonist of the film by Orion Pictures because of his quintessential good guy persona and James Cameron did not want that at all. So much so, that he arranged a lunch to meet the executives of the production company and fight them. He deemed that as his number one agenda on the list. Consequently, he devised a nefarious scheme in which he aimed to provoke a conflict between the actor and those who opposed his vision. This would thus provide him with ample justification to dismiss the proposition put forth by Orion. But lo and behold, what transpired next was not at all a part of Cameron’s plan. The director narrated saying,
“Initially, I didn’t really want him. Orion had proposed him to play the other guy, because he was the hero. I’ll never forget walking out of my apartment and telling my roommate, ‘I’ve got to go have lunch with Conan and pick a fight with him.’ That was my agenda, because I didn’t want him to do the movie. So I had to get in an argument and come back and say he was an a–hole.”
The director’s main concern stemmed from the audience’s perception of the actor, considering that all his previous roles before joining the franchise depicted him as the heroic figure who emerges triumphant. Consequently, casting him as the menacing anti-heroic cyborg assassin didn’t align well with his vision according to Cameron.
How Did Arnold Schwarzenegger Win James Cameron’s Heart?
Although James Cameron was firm on his decision, it was Arnold Schwarzenegger after all. Thus, the director did not see what all that transpired after he reached for lunch coming at all. After the director met the actor, he realized how wrong he was. Schwarzenegger’s undeniable charm swept him off his feet. In the same interview, he continued saying,
“But that’s not what happened. I had lunch with Arnold and he was so charming and so into the script and so amusing and entertaining that I totally forgot my agenda. I had a great time, even though he made me smoke a cigar that made me sick for six hours. Funny thing was, he even had to pay for lunch, because I was there with this loser from Hemdale who didn’t have any money. And I didn’t have any money.”
The director claimed, the actor made him forget about his agenda thus the plan to fight the actor and make him look like an “a–hole” totally backfired on him. And more so, when the True Lies actor had to pay for all of their lunches at the very end of this eye-opening meetup. Although Orion initially wanted Schwarzenegger to be the good guy, upon speaking with the actor the Titanic director realized he would be best for the titular role of the Terminator itself. And he wasn’t wrong. The actor was indeed perfect for the role and ended up becoming a cultural phenomenon.
Source: LA Times (via Terminator Files)
