When considering the war movies that Stanley Kubrick directed, you might think of Paths of Glory, Dr. Strangelove, and of course, one of the most debated, Full Metal Jacket.
It is unlikely that any budding actor would pass up the chance to collaborate with someone like Stanley Kubrick. The same cannot be said, however, for countless Hollywood legends, as almost every actor in the business has turned down a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get cast in the movies. The Austrian-American actor, Arnold Schwarzenegger is just one example of such an icon.
Schwarzenegger is the star of several action films, such as The Terminator, Commando, and Predator. Beginning his acting career as a bodybuilder, the eccentric actor gradually worked with a number of well-known filmmakers, including Robert Altman, Michael Schultz, and James Cameron.
Despite participating in multiple prestigious film projects over the years, the former bodybuilding star also made some audacious decisions to reject movies directed by acclaimed filmmakers.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Refused to Participate in Stanley Kubrick’s 1987 War Film
Arnold Schwarzenegger declined the chance to work on Full Metal Jacket, widely regarded as Stanley Kubrick‘s one of the most hated movies and, still a hot topic of debate even today.
Schwarzenegger had established an iconic persona by the end of the 1980s and was a legitimate Hollywood star, thanks in large part to movies like Predator, The Running Man, and, to a lesser extent, Twins. The actor achieved stardom through his comedy and action roles, but his career might have taken a very different turn had he accepted a job offer from Kubrick.
Schwarzenegger was wanted by the late director’s 1987 Vietnam War film, Full Metal Jacket, which was hailed as one of the hardest and most technically accomplished movies at the time.
Kubrick was specifically looking for an actor to play a physically large character known as Animal Mother; in the end, Adam Baldwin played the role.
The acclaimed director, who passed away on March 7, 1999, thought Schwarzenegger was ideal for the part, but the actor did not share that opinion, reportedly declining the chance to star in The Running Man.
What More To Know About Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket
Full Metal Jacket, a movie by Stanley Kubrick, might be characterized as being extremely realistic. However, this realism couldn’t be achieved by depicting events exactly as they had taken place.
The final product was a timeless image, despite the production going through numerous trials (and takes). Full Metal Jacket is even today by, some critics one of Kubrick’s less impressive films, but it was still a captivating film. Also, this film was also considered to have the reputation of being one of the most profound anti-war movies ever made.
It embodied the spirit of a conflict that still haunts the veterans’ minds by being philosophical, conflicted, and downright terrifying. Full Metal Jacket is far from a bad movie, but it feels like Kubrick’s most conventional work.
For a filmmaker with Kubrick’s level of skill and mastery, “average” should not be sufficient by some critics.
It was the last Kubrick movie to be released while he was still alive. In addition to receiving positive reviews from critics, the movie made $120 million on a $16 million budget. Also, note that Full Metal Jacket received 11 award nominations between 1987 and 1989.
Watch Full Metal Jacket, which is available to stream on FuboTV.
Source- Far Out Magazine
