Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the defining action stars of the 80s and 90s. His incredible physique and intimidating demeanor made it perfect for portraying a no-nonsense protagonist who instilled fear among his enemies. These qualities made him the perfect actor for the Terminator series which made him a global star.
One of his early roles in the action space was 1982’s Conan the Barbarian. The film required the actor to perform a lot of heavy-duty action sequences. However, due to his size and physical build, the makers couldn’t find a body double for him and the actor had to perform the dangerous sequences in the film as well.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Performed Every Action Sequence in Conan the Barbarian
1982’s Conan the Barbarian was one of the first films in Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s career where he was given the lead role in a film. The actor played the mythic character who is known for his incredible strength and combat skills. Therefore, Schwarzenegger took part in many high-octane action sequences in the film.
Some sequences in the film would be dangerous for any actor to do. However, there was no body double/ stuntman that was big enough to be in place of the actor. Therefore, the actor had to perform some dangerous acts in the film as well. He talked about it in a Q&A session in the Pump App saying, (via Arnold’s Pump Club)
“Conan was brutal because there wasn’t stunt guys big enough yet so I had to crawl until my knees and elbows bleed, get attacked by those dogs, and bit that real dead vulture. Luckily, lifting weights became popular, and muscular stunt guys became available.”
The success of the film placed Schwarzenegger on the radar of many filmmakers at the time. His dedication and commitment to his work are evident from his early days in the industry and it’s the main reason for his incredible career graph.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is Done Playing the Terminator
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s most popular role is undoubtedly the Terminator. He has played the fan-favorite character for over 40 years from the 80s to the 2010s (he played the character 5 times). His last appearance was in 2019’s Terminator: Dark Fate.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor has declared that he is done playing the role. Schwarzenegger also claimed that the franchise needs a fresh approach and a new theme that would fit today’s concerns regarding AI and technology. He said,
“The franchise is not done. I’m done. I got the message loud and clear that the world wants to move on with a different theme when it comes to The Terminator.”
It remains to be seen whether a new Terminator project ever comes to fruition in the near future. While James Cameron had revealed that he is penning a script for a new film in the franchise, he is primarily focused on the Avatar sequels. Fans of the franchise may have to wait a while for it to happen.
