Entertainment

Arnold Schwarzenegger was originally against the idea of 'Terminator 2' after he read the script and realized that his character doesn't kill anyone

Edward Furlong as John Connor and Arnold Schwarzenegger as the T-800 in "Terminator 2: Judgement Day."
Edward Furlong as John Connor and Arnold Schwarzenegger as the T-800 in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." Tri-Star Pictures
Read in app

Netflix's "Arnold" docuseries is an eye-opening look at Arnold Schwarzenegger's life and career, with the star being honest about having an affair, and opening up about some of his biggest movies. 

The "Terminator" franchise gets plenty of attention, with Schwarzenegger and director James Cameron discussing O.J. Simpson initially being up for his role, as well as Linda Hamilton being "more cut" than the Austrian actor.

The docuseries also briefly explores why the 75-year-old actor was initially "against" the sequel "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," which Cameron says was because his robot character, the T-800, didn't kill anyone in the script.

 "At first, Arnold was absolutely against the idea," recalled Cameron. "Arnold and I were going to meet and talk about the script. So I sit down and I can see he's not his usual cheerful self. I go, 'What's the matter? You don't like it?' He goes, 'Jim… I don't kill anybody.'"

Cameron said that he explained to Schwarzenegger that the sequel would switch up the dynamic between his character and John Connor (Edward Furlong) from the first movie. This time, he said, the T-800's job was to protect John, not kill him.

"'Now you're the good guy, now you're the defender, you're the protector,'" Cameron recalled telling the actor.

"He said, 'Okay, alright. Can I shoot them in the leg?' I said, 'Yeah, let's just shoot them in the leg. How's that?' He goes, 'No, that's good.'"

Schwarzenegger also discussed the progression of the T-800 character in the sequel, saying: "Whenever you do a sequel, you cannot just do the same story."

"In 'Terminator 1,' I was this evil machine that just destroyed anyone and everyone who came in my path. And in the second one, I say, 'I swear I will not kill anyone,'" he added.

"Arnold" is now streaming on Netflix.

When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

Read next

Eammon Jacobs is an Entertainment Reporter at Business Insider's London bureau. He covers movies and TV shows, with a specific focus on genres like horror, science fiction, action, thrillers, comic book adaptations, and true crime.He's well-versed in franchises like Star Wars, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC Comics, Hellboy, Fallout, Scream, Hellraiser, and the Alien movies.You can get in touch with him via email at ejacobs@jkmperu.comPopular ArticlesA CIA counterterrorism officer's cover was being a comic book author. Now, he's an award-winning writer for DC, working in Hollywood on HBO's 'Lanterns.'Ron Perlman has made peace with the death of 'Hellboy 3'Macaulay Culkin is reportedly heading to the wasteland for 'Fallout.' Here's everything we know about season 2.'Babylon' director Damien Chazelle responds to negative critical reaction: 'We all knew the movie was going to ruffle some feathers'