Skip to main content
Games Radar
  • Newsarama
  • Total Film
  • Edge
  • Retro Gamer
  • SFX
SFX The world's number one sci-fi, fantasy and horror magazine
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
  • News
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletter
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • SFX
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
View
Trending
  • Disney Plus bundles
  • Best Sci Fi Movies
  • New Marvel TV Shows
  • New TV Shows
Recommended reading
The Running Man
Action Movies Arnold Schwarzenegger explains how the new remake of Stephen King's Running Man can improve on his 1987 movie: "[Ours] was great, but it could've been better"
God of War 3
God of War OG God of War Kratos actor says all that rage was real: "At the time I was very angry. There were a lot of things going on that had me in a real nasty place"
Glen Powell in Top Gun: Maverick
Sci-Fi Movies The Running Man star Glen Powell says Tom Cruise was "so stoked" after watching the teaser for the Stephen King adaptation: "It's a memory I will never forget"
Alfie Williams as Spike and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Jamie in 28 Years Later
Horror Movies "Only Danny Boyle is brave enough to make bold swings like that": 28 Years Later star teases new horror movie, as he compares "experimental" shoot to "technical" Nosferatu's
Michael Fassbender as Colt Magnum in Kung Fury: The Movie
Action Movies Michael Fassbender and Arnold Schwarzenegger help kill Nazis in leaked Kung Fury sizzle reel
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
Action Movies Tom Cruise had to be carried off the plane for Mission: Impossible finale due to tiredness
The White Lotus
Horror Movies American Psycho reboot has another potential Patrick Bateman: The White Lotus and Gen V star Patrick Schwarzenegger
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

Arnie talks about being the Terminator for 31 years

Features
By SFX Staff published 1 July 2015

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Austrian Oak

Austrian Oak

Its been 31 years since Arnold Schwarzenegger first played cybernetic assassin the T-800 in James Camerons classic time-travel thriller The Terminator. Since then hes battled Predators, travelled to Mars, tussled with Batman and even served as the Governor of California an achievement hes clearly still immensely proud of, flashing his knuckleduster of a commemorative ring as he leans forward to offer SFX a firm but enthusiastic handshake.

Were in his adopted home town of Los Angeles to talk about his new film Terminator Genisys the fifth instalment in the long-running franchise, billed as something of a series reset. This time out, Schwarzeneggers playing an older, more grizzled machine, sent back even further in time to prepare a young Sarah Connor (Game Of Thrones Emilia Clarke) for the oncoming war with Skynet. SFX grilled the former Mr Universe about returning to the role that helped to kickstart his Hollywood career.

Click here for more excellent SFX articles. Or maybe you want to take advantage of some great offers on magazine subscriptions? You can find them here.

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
Did you have any idea back in 84 that the T-800 would become one of your most iconic characters?

Did you have any idea back in 84 that the T-800 would become one of your most iconic characters?

"No way. I dont think anyone could know. Moviemaking is another science. If you knew ahead of time what is successful or not successful, we wouldnt make movies that go in the toilet, right [laughs]? So no. James Cameron and I knew that we had a very unique project, and there was something very powerful there. But I dont think even the studio really knew.

"When the movie came out, they sold it as a B-movie. They didnt really go all out with the campaign. And then it had reviews and they used the quotes, because we had great reviews and we were picked as one of the top 10 movies of the year by Time magazine. I think they were surprised by that how the highbrows also liked the movie, and found something interesting, because of the time travel and what the future holds. No one knew that it would be this big, and that the sequel would become the highest grossing movie of the year. We were all surprised."

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
You didnt do the last Terminator movie

You didnt do the last Terminator movie

"I didnt do Terminator Salvation because I was the Governor [of California] at the time. You cant do both. The people would be very upset if they saw me going off for several months because Im doing a movie. I made it very clear to them that I would not even do one single shot, because it doesnt work. California is the sixth largest economy in the world, so you have your hands full!"

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
What was it about Genisys that appealed to you? Why did you want to reprise the character?

What was it about Genisys that appealed to you? Why did you want to reprise the character?

"The thing with Terminator was: how do you rework it in a way so that you dont get narrowed into a tunnel with the rules [of time travel]. Then you have nowhere to go. Or if you go outside, people say, Thats bogus. So how do you do that? I think theyve been very successful with Star Trek and with other films like that. They did that and it worked. So when I read the script I saw that it alters the story of the original Terminator and when I meet myself as I ask for the clothes, someone says behind me, You wont need it [laughs] thats when all hell breaks loose and the story goes off in a different direction. To me, that was the most attractive thing."

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
What kind of Terminator are you playing in this movie?

What kind of Terminator are you playing in this movie?

"Im more of the protector that you saw in Terminator 2 and 3. I become a fatherly figure to Sarah Connor Ive groomed her since she was a child to become this warrior. Its a great role to play. The evolution youll see is in the visual effects. There are things weve done in this film that we were not able to do in 1991. For instance, the whole recreation of me as the Terminator from 1984 Even now, theyre lucky if they get all the frames in before the movies released, because it is very difficult to do. But theyre doing it. Ive seen it and I was really blown away."

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
Was the shoot very physical for you?

Was the shoot very physical for you?

"Very physical. Even though the Terminators flesh has aged, the skeleton stays the same. Thats why it was important for me to gain 10lbs and to get the same size as I was in the first Terminator movie. I have to say, everyone did an incredible job because they really trained hard. For me, its natural to train hard. But for [the other actors] to come in like that and to bulk up and be that muscular, and Emilia having to do all this weapons training and all that, I have the utmost respect for them for being able to pull it off."

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
How is Genisys relevant to todays audiences?

How is Genisys relevant to todays audiences?

"Theres a lot of real stuff in there. The outcome is kind of sci-fi-y and futuristic, but even that day is becoming real. Were all fascinated by machines. Terminator Genisys is all about: how can [Skynet] suck the world into buying into their future Its now becoming so much of a reality, I dont really see it as science fiction!"

Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
SFX Staff

SFX Magazine is the world's number one sci-fi, fantasy, and horror magazine published by Future PLC. Established in 1995, SFX Magazine prides itself on writing for its fans, welcoming geeks, collectors, and aficionados into its readership for over 25 years. Covering films, TV shows, books, comics, games, merch, and more, SFX Magazine is published every month. If you love it, chances are we do too and you'll find it in SFX.

See more Movies Features
Read more
The Running Man
Arnold Schwarzenegger explains how the new remake of Stephen King's Running Man can improve on his 1987 movie: "[Ours] was great, but it could've been better"
God of War 3
OG God of War Kratos actor says all that rage was real: "At the time I was very angry. There were a lot of things going on that had me in a real nasty place"
Glen Powell in Top Gun: Maverick
The Running Man star Glen Powell says Tom Cruise was "so stoked" after watching the teaser for the Stephen King adaptation: "It's a memory I will never forget"
Alfie Williams as Spike and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Jamie in 28 Years Later
"Only Danny Boyle is brave enough to make bold swings like that": 28 Years Later star teases new horror movie, as he compares "experimental" shoot to "technical" Nosferatu's
Michael Fassbender as Colt Magnum in Kung Fury: The Movie
Michael Fassbender and Arnold Schwarzenegger help kill Nazis in leaked Kung Fury sizzle reel
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
Tom Cruise had to be carried off the plane for Mission: Impossible finale due to tiredness
Latest in Movies
Patrick Gallagher, Robin Williams, Ben Stiller, and Rami Malek in Night at the Museum
Deadpool and Wolverine director's classic '00s family movie starring Ben Stiller is getting a reboot
Ne Zha 2
After making almost $2bn in China, the highest-grossing animated film of all time is getting a US release in August
Jack Kirby Way/Yancy St. signs
A little piece of the Marvel Universe just became reality in honor of the Fantastic Four and their legendary co-creator Jack Kirby
Superman kisses Lois Lane in James Gunn's Superman
After years of loveless Marvel and DC movies, I hope Superman and Fantastic Four prove romantic relationships are just as important as world-saving spectacle when it comes to superhero flicks
Jurassic World Dominion
Jurassic World Rebirth fans are debating the fates of fan-favourites Blue and Rexy after the new movie reveals dinosaurs have almost died out again
The Fantastic Four: First Steps promo image
After Fantastic Four hits theaters, we've got our longest wait for a new Marvel movie since the pandemic
Latest in Features
The Sims 4 Enchanted by Nature
After 16 years of The Sims 3, The Sims 4 Enchanted by Nature might just be the whimsical expansion pack that pulls me away from EA's iconic 2009 life sim for good
Red Dead Redemption 2 screenshot of Arthur Morgan who has shoulder length hair and a beard and wears a cowboy hat
After 4 years I returned to Red Dead Redemption 2 and fell into a chaotic rodeo of mishaps as I tried to remember how to be Arthur Morgan
Superman kisses Lois Lane in James Gunn's Superman
After years of loveless Marvel and DC movies, I hope Superman and Fantastic Four prove romantic relationships are just as important as world-saving spectacle when it comes to superhero flicks
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom gameplay running with the Switch 2 upgrade
I wanted to make a beeline for Tears of the Kingdom's ending, but Zelda's Switch 2 upgrade has forced me to slow down
Death Stranding 2 Sam touching Lou and Fragile
Death Stranding 2's final fight is Hideo Kojima's way of saying goodbye to Metal Gear Solid
Heroes 3 screenshot
The greatest strategy RPG ever is making a comeback with the publisher behind Manor Lords, and I'm ready to relive my Behemoth-collecting 2000s
  1. A Gundam style mech in Mecha Break
    1
    Mecha Break review: "This mech battler makes up for lacking customization with a varied roster that lets me live out my Evangelion fantasy"
  2. 2
    Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: "This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse"
  3. 3
    Rematch review: "As with Rocket League, the just-one-more-game pull is magnetic"
  4. 4
    Tron: Catalyst review: "Disc slinging is a thrill in this gorgeous rendition of the series, but I'm let down by a time-loop story that falls flat"
  5. 5
    FBC: Firebreak review: "A disappointingly bland multiplayer FPS that's missing far too much of what made Control special"
  1. David Corenswet as Superman inside the Fortress of Solitude in James Gunn's Superman.
    1
    Superman review: "A triumphant reinvention and a promising start for the DCU"
  2. 2
    Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber"
  3. 3
    M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion"
  4. 4
    28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”
  5. 5
    Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation"
  1. Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun in Squid Game season 3
    1
    Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever"
  2. 2
    Ironheart review: "A relic of Marvel's content-at-all-costs era"
  3. 3
    Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date"
  4. 4
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling"
  5. 5
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...