Why Arnold Schwarzenegger Fired His Agent Over Terminator Casting 

James Cameron has shared why Arnold Schwarzenegger fired his agent over The Terminator casting. The director has offered new details into the casting process behind the movie. He also revealed how an early meeting with Schwarzenegger reshaped his vision for the film and its character.

James Cameron breaks down Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator casting story

James Cameron has shared details of casting Arnold Schwarzenegger as the lead in The Terminator. In a recent conversation with Vanity Fair, the director revealed how an early meeting unexpectedly influenced the film. 

Cameron explained that during their conversation, Schwarzenegger repeatedly referenced scenes involving the Terminator. The director explained, “But Arnold had read the script. He really enjoyed the script. He liked the script and the character he kept talking about was a terminator. I don’t think he was trying to angle for that part, but he just talked about set pieces that were more Terminator set pieces.” 

As Cameron listened, he began reassessing the film’s “vision” and “character.” He said, “But what I wrote was a character who was an infiltrator. He was covered with skin so that he could blend in with us. So that nobody would look at him twice. Well, Arnold is not that guy. So I’m recalibrating in my mind the whole time he’s talking.”

The director added. ”I’m thinking, okay, he walks into a room, he looks different, he’s bigger, he’s wider, he looks unstoppable. This is a very different story, but it could work.”

After the meeting, Cameron informed producer John Daly that Schwarzenegger would be a powerful fit for the Terminator itself. He said, “And I went to meet with John Daly, who was the head of Hemdale, executive producer, and he said, ‘How’d it go?’ I said, ‘He’s not Reese.’ And he was like, ‘Ah,’ you know,’ and I said, ‘But he’d make a hell of a terminator.’”  

Daly acted quickly, contacting Schwarzenegger’s agent to offer him the part. Cameron added, “It got turned down and then Arnold fired his agent. He hired him back the next day and said, ‘I want this part.’ And so then, you know, it all worked out.”

Source: Comingsoon.net