Did You Know That O.J. Simpson Was Almost Cast as the Terminator?

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As a long-time fan of the sci-fi genre, I can confidently say that The Terminator franchise holds a special place in my heart and in the hearts of many other fans out there. From its humble beginnings in 1984 to its continued success today, this franchise has captivated audiences with its gripping storylines, groundbreaking special effects, and iconic characters.

The “Terminator” film series holds a significant and influential position among science fiction franchises, having been initially conceptualized by the renowned director James Cameron following a dream about a robotic figure armed with kitchen knives. This idea eventually evolved into an iconic movie, which subsequently spawned a continuing franchise that remains popular to this day.

The first installment of The Terminator was initially released in 1984 and has since amassed a devoted fanbase who consider it a classic; no self-respecting science fiction enthusiast would argue that the film is subpar or less than one of the best sci-fi movies ever created. From a cinematic standpoint, we can all concur on this point.

As a gamer, I’ve always admired the unforgettable portrayal of the T-800, or Cyberdyne Systems Model 101, by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Terminator series. But did you know that another actor was originally in the running for this iconic role before James Cameron nixed that idea? Let’s delve deeper into the story!

It’s common knowledge among franchise enthusiasts, but the gossip that Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn’t initially chosen for the T-800 role might have originated from him. In a past interview, he admitted that he was not the initial cast pick for this role.

“It was actually OJ Simpson that was the first cast Terminator,” he said. “Then somehow [James Cameron] felt that he was not as believable for a killing machine. So then they hired me. That’s really what happened. On the painting that I have at home – it was painted by Jim Cameron. Underneath my face is actually OJ Simpson’s face. It was already painted on it, with the leather jacket and the gun in the hand. I have the painting in my office. So if anyone would ever scrape off the part of my face, underneath will be OJ.”

Source: Independent

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve always been fascinated by the behind-the-scenes stories of movies. You know, the one about O.J. Simpson being initially considered for the role of the T-800 in “The Terminator”? If you believe some rumors, it would have been a public relations catastrophe given Simpson’s later circumstances. However, Arnold Schwarzenegger has repeated this tale numerous times, and I can confirm that Simpson was indeed a candidate. Yet, James Cameron himself later debunked the story as untrue. So much for the “I’ll be back” legend!

“Let me set the record straight. Arnold was mistaken on this occasion. It’s difficult to believe, I know! Disagreeing with Arnold isn’t an option. I had a conversation with Mike Medavoy, who was involved in financing the movie through Orion Pictures and Hemdale. He informed me that there were plans for O.J. Simpson to play The Terminator and Arnold Schwarzenegger as Kyle Reese. My co-producer Gale Hurd and I were stunned by this idea. During our phone call, I told him it wouldn’t work out with O.J. Simpson, and he asked if I would meet with Arnold Schwarzenegger. So, no, O.J. Simpson was never The Terminator.

Source: Los Angeles Times

As a die-hard fan, I’ve got to share a fascinating behind-the-scenes story about the iconic film “Terminator.” Initially, Cameron wasn’t keen on Arnold Schwarzenegger playing Reese, but when they finally met, he was convinced that Arnold would be perfect as the T-800. And so, the movie history was rewritten!

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2024-10-26 19:44