Arnold Schwarzenegger Thought ‘I’ll Be Back’ Was ‘Stupid’ At First
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s most iconic “I’ll be back” line almost didn’t happen, the actor revealed in a new interview. Talking to The Hollywood Reporter Tuesday (May 16), the Terminator star recalled…
Arnold Schwarzenegger attends an event marking the completion of a 4-acre solar rooftop constructed atop AltaSea’s research and development facility at the Port of Los Angeles, in the San Pedro neighborhood, on April 21, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. The installation will supply enough energy to power AltaSea’s 35-acre campus, the country’s biggest ‘blue economy’ tech hub, which is focused on clean oceans, climate resiliency, and clean energy.
Mario Tama/Getty ImagesArnold Schwarzenegger's most iconic "I'll be back" line almost didn't happen, the actor revealed in a new interview. Talking to The Hollywood Reporter Tuesday (May 16), the Terminator star recalled how the line from the 1984 sci-fi flick "was an accident."
The former California governor told the publication that he and director James Cameron were debating how to say the line because "I was not comfortable with saying 'I'll be back.'" He added that he thought it was "stronger" to say: "I will be back." The Avatar director replied back to him, "Are you the scriptwriter now? It's just one word. Don't tell me how to write. I don't tell you how to act." Schwarzenegger, 75, said he shot back, saying how he told him how to act "every f------ minute!"
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According to the former bodybuilder, who is making his TV series debut in the upcoming action-comedy FUBAR, Cameron tried to calm the situation down and explain himself. "'Arnold, you think it sounds weird. It doesn't,'" the actor recalled Cameron say. "What makes it great is that you sound different than me or Charlie over there. That's what makes it work." Cameron then told him to "just say it ten times. Say it in different ways. I'll keep rolling the camera. Then we'll choose one." After doing the line flatly, cheerfully, and guttural, Schwarzenegger recounted, "It sounded stupid."
Obviously, the final product worked out, and the line became iconic. He told the publication, "The movie comes out. I'm in Central Park. This guy comes up and says, 'Say the line!'" Just a few days before this interview was published, Arnold said a concierge in Aspen came up to him to ask him to say the line. "So that's where it started and where it ended up," Schwarzenegger said. "It's wild."
29 Movies That Turn 40 in 2023
When looking at the movies that turn 40 in 2023, one thing is very clear: 1983 kind of ruled!
In 1983, a holiday classic was born with A Christmas Story. Meanwhile, a star was born in Tom Cruise thanks to Risky Business. Women started cutting up their sweatshirts thanks to Flashdance, and a new sex symbol was born thanks to that gold bikini in Return of the Jedi. We also said hello to a little friend (Scarface), gave our daughter the shot (Terms of Endearment) and were gagged with a spoon (Valley Girl.)
Here are 29 movies that turn 40 in 2023. Even the biggest cynic would agree that 1983 at the movies was totally tubular.
WarGames
Released on June 3, 1983.
A Christmas Story
Released on November 18, 1983.
National Lampoon’s Vacation
Released on July 29, 1983.
Trading Places
Released on June 8, 1983.
Scarface
Released on December 9, 1983.
The Outsiders
Released on March 25, 1983.
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
Released on May 25, 1983.
Risky Business
Released on August 5, 1983.
Christine
Released on December 9, 1983.
Never Say Never Again
Released on October 7, 1983.
Octopussy
Released on June 10, 1983.
Flashdance
Released on April 15, 1983.
Staying Alive
Released on July 15, 1983.
Private School
Released on July 29, 1983.
The Big Chill
Released on September 28, 1983.
Valley Girl
Released on April 29, 1983.
Terms of Endearment
Released on November 23, 1983.
Cujo
Released on August 12, 1983.
Mr. Mom
Released on August 19, 1983.
Sudden Impact
Released on December 9, 1983.
Yentl
Released on November 18, 1983.
All the Right Moves
Released on October 21, 1983.
Silkwood
Released on December 14, 1983.
Class
Released on July 6, 1983.
The Meaning of Life
Released on March 31, 1983.
Uncommon Valor
Released on December 16, 1983.
Rumble Fish
Released on October 21, 1983.
Bad Boys
Released on March 25, 1983.
Easy Money
Released on August 19, 1983.
