Acton starArnold Schwarzenegger reveals he’s willing to star in bothTrue Lies 2 andLast Action Hero 2. The actor broke the news while his discussing his latest film,Terminator: Dark Fate. InTerminator: Dark Fate, Schwarzenegger reprises his famous T-800 character, who first appeared in James Cameron’s 1984 classicThe Terminator. Produced for just $6 million, the franchise-starter earned over $78 million in theatres, and allowed Schwarzenegger to pursue more high-profile roles in the action genre.
AfterTerminator 2: Judgment Day released in 1991, Schwarzenegger portrayed Jack Slater in John McTiernan’s 1993 satireLast Action Hero, and reunited with Cameron for the 1994 blockbusterTrue Lies. Three years later, Cameron released the pop culture sensationTitanic before moving onto theAvatar franchise. Cameron is one ofTerminator: Dark Fate’s co-producers.
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During an exclusiveScreen Rant interview, Schwarzenegger implied that he’s definitely open to more franchise films beyondTerminator: Dark Fate. When asked about potential“legacy sequels” forLast Action Hero orTrue Lies, the action icon stated that he’ll follow the fans’ lead. He said, “It’s always up to the fans; if they demand to see another movie like that.”
But Schwarzenegger wouldn’t merely attach himself to a legacy sequelonly because fans crave some nostalgia. Audiences would expect the usual action, of course, but the story itself is important to the actor as well: “If a script is great, I do it.”
At 72-years-old, Schwarzenegger’s legacy is firmly in place, but the stakes are indeed high forTerminator: Dark Fate. The film reunites the actor withLinda Hamilton, who starred in the original two franchise installments. Produced for $185 million,Terminator: Dark Fate features direction from Tim Miller and supporting performances from Mackenzie Davis, Natalie Reyes, and Gabriel Luna as Rev-9, the newTerminator. Based on early reviews, it’s still unclear if the new franchise film will become the latest mega-hit in Schwarzenegger’s filmography.Terminator: Dark Fate was written by David. S. Goyer, Justin Rhodes, and Billy Ray.
Even ifTerminator: Dark Fate is a relative disappointment,which doesn't seem to be the case, Schwarzenegger clearly has the clout to make a new legacy sequel in the coming years. And if Cameron signs on forTrue Lies 2, then fans can expect plenty of bang for their buck. But as legacy sequels continue to be a thing in modern pop culture - a trend - it’s possible that Schwarzenegger may choose to sink his teeth into original roles that further boost his legacy. For now, he’s fully willing to give the fans what they want, even if it’s another blockbuster dripping with nostalgia likeTrue Lies 2 orLast Action Hero 2.
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