Arnold Schwarzeneggeris one of the biggest movie stars on the globe. The macho man behind mega-hit action films such asThe Terminator, Predator,andCommandoalso served as the 38th governor of California, proving that there isn’t much that he can’t do. Along with this, at 75, the seven-time Mr. Olympia champion still has an incredible physique and is showing any signs of stopping. This isn’t it though, despite Schwarzenegger’s overly macho personality, the muscular movie star brings a softness to his work, creating a perfect balance between an externally hard exterior complimented by an internal interior. After having spent nearly five decades as a professional actor, Schwarzenegger has produced iconic characters and roles, while also missing out on a few. Here are some major roles Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t get or turned down.
10I Am Legend (2007)
What now seemsto be a Will Smith showwas offered to Schwarzenegger 15 years before, with Ridley Scott in line to direct the film. After Ridley Scott dropped out, the budget was slashed and Michael Bay was brought on board to take over. As soon as Ridley Scott was officially out, Schwarzenegger followed suit.
9Total Recall 2
After the success ofTotal Recall,a sequel seemed like the most natural way to go. After-all,Total Recallhad everything going for it, from box office revenue to Schwarzenegger’s incremental rise in star power. Riding this wave of success there were several attempts made for making the film’s sequel but nothing concrete came off it, as in 1990 sequels were still seen as“commercial debasements that serious artists did not indulge in”.
8Air Force One (1997)
Imagining Schwarzenegger with a thick accentplaying a US President,now seems a bit far-fetched, but that wasn’t the case during the casting ofAir Force One.The creative team considered Tom Hanks and Arnold Schwarzenegger for the presidents' role before it ended up with Harrison Ford.
7The Incredible Hulk (1978)
Before Lou Ferrigno made his mark as The Hulk in the 1970s TV series,The Incredible Hulk,Schwarzenegger was closely considered for the role as well. The producers thought went ahead with Ferrigno, as they thought Schwarzenegger wasn’t tall enough.
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6Spider-Man (1991)
In 1991, James Cameron pitched a treatment ofSpider-Man, pitting him up against, Electro, Sandman, and Dr. Octopus. Having worked together onThe Terminator, Cameron thought Schwarzenegger would perfectly suit Dr. Octopus, but unfortunately, the film never saw the light of day due to the studio not warming up to Cameron’s pitch.
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5Robocop (1987)
Schwarzenegger asRobocopwould’ve been a match made in heaven. Schwarzenegger’s huge build and naturally mechanical movements would have complimented the cyborg’s characteristics. But unfortunately, the producers didn’t think along the same lines. They thought that Schwarzenegger’s huge frame would be a cause of concern when it came to developing a suit for him, and the role eventually went to Peter Weller.
4Die Hard (1998)
It’s difficult to imagine anybody else playing Bruce Willis’ role fromDie Hard. But funnily enough, the film serves as a sequel to Schwarzenegger’sCommando,and the role was only passed on to Bruce Willis before being rejected by Schwarzenegger, Harrison Ford, and Richard Gere. Due to Schwarzenegger’s immense fame in the ’80s, he was on every casting agent’s list but, the seven-time Mr. Olympia champion wanted to sidestep action for a bit and try out comedy with the filmTwins.
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3Face/Off (1997)
Nic Cage and John Travolta did an exceptional job inFace/Off,but they weren’t the first choice for the film. Before them, the producers seriously considered thepairing of Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, pitting the two macho forces against each other. Although the duo wasn’t seemingly very pally with each other back in the ’90s, their chemistry in films likeEscape PlanandThe Expendablessuggests they would’ve done a tremendous job inFace/Off.
2Full Metal Jacket (1987)
It’s difficult saying no to Stanley Kubrick, and that’s exactly what Schwarzenegger did back in the ’80s when Kubrick approached him forFull Metal Jacket.The legendary director thought Schwarzenegger would be perfect for the role of Animal Mother, but Schwarzenegger had to refuse, as he was already working onCommandoandPredator.
1The Terminator (1984)
Yes, you read that right. Before making the role of humanity’s last stand against the machines his own, Schwarzenegger was originally considered for the role of the terminator’s rival, Kyle Reese. But the more Schwarzenegger read the script, the more the T-800’s part started to appeal to him, as it simultaneously became obvious to Cameron as well. To the point where one day,Cameron sent a painting of Schwarzenegger as the Terminatorto Schwarzenegger’s office, which acted as a catalyst in convincing him to take the role.
