Terminator Star Had Doubts About Schwarzenegger (& James Cameron’s Script)

The Terminator star Linda Hamilton originally had doubts about the film’s script, as well as the acting abilities of her co-star Arnold Schwarzenegger. Released in 1984, The Terminator sees Schwarzenegger as the titular cyborg assassin, intent on killing Hamilton’s Sarah Connor before she can give birth to future Resistance leader John Connor. Following the success of the film, The Terminator became a massive franchise, including six films and a TV series.

In an interview as part of the Schwarzenegger-focused Netflix docuseries Arnold (via Insider), Hamilton revealed she had initial doubts about The Terminator. She says those doubts included the script as well as Schwarzenegger’s ability to act as the film’s villain. Check out Hamilton’s full statement below:

It was truly just another job. I didn’t think that it was particularly greater than over scripts that I’d read. I mean, really clueless. It was very low budget and we were all rather new at it. I definitely had my doubts.

By our snotty definition, Arnold [Schwarzenegger] was a poser. A bodybuilder pretending to be an actor. But because I was curious, I went and stood off the sidelines watching Arnold, and I bought it. The physicality and the stiffness, and all of the things that he was implementing. I was like, ‘OK, this might work.’

Why The Terminator Is A Classic Action Film

The Terminator is still remembered as a classic action film for having a science fiction premise while also being set in the ’80s. As Hamilton notes, the stiff nature of Schwarzenegger’s performance as the Terminator worked to make him an unstoppable force throughout the movie. While Schwarzenegger has confirmed the end of his Terminator career, his approach to the T-800 as a villain in The Terminator is a memorable performance within cinematic history.

In addition to the horror and action elements of The Terminator, the film also featured a memorable twist at the end. Throughout the film, future soldier Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) tries to protect Sarah from the Terminator, having been sent back in time by John to do so. However, Kyle and Sarah sleep together, and the end of the movie reveals Kyle is John’s father. This twist underscores The Terminator as a thoughtful narrative that used time travel in a creative way.

The Terminator franchise is continuing to this day, with Terminator 7 confirmed by creator James Cameron in May 2023. While more recent entries in the Terminator series have not been as critically or commercially successful as The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, the popularity of the franchise is undeniable. While Hamilton may have had initial doubts about The Terminator and Schwarzenegger’s involvement, the film still turned out to be a very successful venture.

Source: Arnold (via Insider)