When James Cameron’s True Lies, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, hit the screens in 1994, it was widely believed to be the movie that could potentially seal the fate of the James Bond series. This assumption was rather straightforward to make, especially considering that the 007 franchise had been dormant since 1989’s Licence To Kill.
James Cameron had aspirations for True Lies 2 during the 1990s, but the project ultimately failed to materialize. What led to this outcome? In 1994, Cameron reunited with Arnold Schwarzenegger for the action-comedy True Lies, where Schwarzenegger embraced a departure from his customary roles, albeit remaining the central figure. The film was packed with action, ensuring that Schwarzenegger maintained his “action star” status.
Why Did Arnold Schwarzenegger Never Return For True Lies 2
In 2009, before his monumental triumph with Avatar, James Cameron participated in a panel at San Diego Comic-Con. The purpose of this appearance was to promote the film that would ultimately rake in a staggering $2.5 billion globally. However, during the session, an audience member inquired about the possibility of True Lies 2. Cameron’s response was that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s commitments as the Governor of California were consuming his time, but he left the door open, saying, “Who knows after that.“
Additional excitement was added to the mix by Tom Arnold, who disclosed that once Schwarzenegger’s tenure as governor concluded, preparations were in motion for the commencement of True Lies 2.
James Cameron told Aint It Cool News:
“I think Tom was joking,” he wrote. “There are no plans for a True Lies 2. I don’t know about the creative direction thing… I’m always down for a good action/comedy (actually we always classified the film as a ‘domestic epic’). But since September 11, I’ve never felt comfortable generating laughs with nuke-toting Islamic fundamentalist terrorists. True Lies, even though it has a cautionary thread underneath the pratfalls, is in a strange way a product of a more innocent time.”
This pattern has persisted throughout the years. Rumors periodically surface, often with Tom Arnold involved, only to be dismissed for similar reasons.
Can True Lies 2 Still Be A Possibility?
Since then, Schwarzenegger has taken on roles in several action-packed movies, including The Last Stand, Escape Plan, Terminator Genisys, and most recently, Terminator: Dark Fate. As for Cameron, he has contributed as a writer and producer for Alita: Battle Angel, produced Terminator: Dark Fate, and is currently engaged in the development of Avatar 2 and Avatar 3.
The prospect of a True Lies sequel coming to fruition in the near future seems highly improbable. Cameron is deeply engrossed in the demanding task of crafting his Avatar sequels, while Schwarzenegger is reveling in the abundance of action-oriented roles available to him. However, it’s worth noting that True Lies is in the process of being adapted into a television series for Disney+, although it’s not a direct sequel to the original film.
What holds the utmost significance is that Cameron has lost interest in the project, primarily because of the numerous terrorist attacks that have occurred since the release of the first film. If he believes that this is the point where the story should conclude, then that decision stands.
True Lies is available for streaming on Hulu.
Source: Aint It Cool News
