The Terminator is one of the greatest action franchises of all time, and Arnold SchwarzeneggerThe insistence that “I’ll be back” ensured that he was able to participate in as many spinoffs and brand deals as he wanted. However, it took the actor a while to warm up to his iconic catchphrase, which he initially thought was “stupid.”
Take a look back at the franchise in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Austrian body builder-turned-actor-turned-California governor revealed that he had an argument with Terminator director James Cameron about the line because he was uncomfortable pronouncing the contraction “I’ll.”
“I think it was stronger to say, ‘I’ll be back,'” Schwarzenegger recalled. “Cameron said, ‘Are you the scriptwriter? Just one word. Don’t tell me how to write. I’m not told how to act.’ I said, ‘You tell me how to move every fucking minute! What are you talking about?!’”
Schwarzenegger continued, “So he said, ‘Arnold, you think this is weird. No. What’s cool is you’re going to sound different to me or Charlie there. That’s what makes it. So just say it 10 times. Say it in different ways. I’ll keep the camera rolling. Then we’ll pick one.’ So they set it up, and I said: ‘(Flat) I’ll be back … (cheerful) I’ll be back! … (guttural) I’ll beeee baaaack …’ It sounds stupid.”
Of course, follows The Terminator’With success, Schwarzenegger grew to embrace his catchphrase. “The movie will come out. I’m in Central Park. This guy came up and said, ‘Say the line!'” he recalled. “Today, a few days ago, I was skiing in Aspen, and the concierge came up and asked me to speak the line. So that’s where it started and where it ended. It’s wild. I’m the last one to get complicated and say, ‘I don’t want to compare myself to my movies or use a line in my movies.’ Hell, Clint Eastwood took the clothes from his movies and that’s all he wore. So why should I bother using a line?”
Schwarzenegger is grateful for The Terminator for his success, but don’t expect him to return to the role anytime soon. “The franchise is not over yet. I’m done,” he said. “I got the message loud and clear that the world wants to pursue a different theme when it comes to The Terminator. Someone has to come up with a great idea. The Terminator is largely responsible for my success, so I always look at it with great joy. The first three movies were great. Number four [Salvation] I am not in it because I am a governor. Then five [Genisys] and six [Dark Fate] didn’t close the deal as far as I know. We know in advance because it is not well written. “
However, the actor will soon star in an action comedy on Netflix FUBAR, his first regular television role. Read his extensive interview with The Hollywood Reporter HERE.