10 Things You Never Knew About The Terminator
From fever dreams in Rome to a one-dollar rights sale, the making of the 1984 classic was wilder than the future war.
Actor/director Michael Biehn (The Terminator , Aliens, The Abyss) at an August 23, 2012 appearance at Midtown Comics Downtown in Manhattan to promote his directorial debut, the horror film The Victim, — Nightscream, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Where to watch The Terminator ↓Fever Dream in Rome
James Cameron got sick in Rome while Piranha II was in theaters and woke up from a nightmare about a metallic torso with kitchen knives crawling out of an explosion. That gruesome vision became the spark for The Terminator.
A One-Dollar Deal He Regretted
To keep the project alive, Cameron sold the rights to producer Gale Anne Hurd for just one dollar on the condition he would direct. He later admitted he wished he had not given the rights away so cheaply.
Gale Anne Hurd speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Terminator Kick-In Pitch
Needing money from Hemdale chairman John Daly, Cameron orchestrated a stunt pitch. Actor Lance Henriksen showed up early in full Terminator makeup with fake cuts and gold foil teeth and kicked open the office door to seal the deal.
Linda Hamilton at the Titanic special effects wrap-up party on the Queen Mary. 1997. (caption: The Titanic special effects wrap-up party on the Queen Mary. 1997. Yes, Peter is attacking Linda Hamilton — Matthew Simoneau from Boston, MA, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Liquid Metal Was Too Early
The first outline actually featured two Terminators sent back, with the second made of liquid metal. Cameron shelved the idea because the effects technology of the time simply could not pull it off.
Michael Connell Biehn (born July 31, 1956) is an American actor. — Bree Bailey, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Stallone and Gibson Said No
The Terminator role was turned down by both Sylvester Stallone and Mel Gibson before it landed on Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Planned Fight Turned Casting Win
Cameron actually walked into his meeting with Schwarzenegger intending to pick a fight to avoid casting him. He left convinced the star was perfect for the Terminator instead.
Arnie Called It a B-Movie
While shooting Conan the Destroyer, Schwarzenegger brushed The Terminator off as a throwaway B-movie that could not hurt his career. He only saw its potential after watching twenty minutes of the first cut.
17 Lines, Three Months of Training
Schwarzenegger trained with weapons for three months to get ready for the part. In the final film he delivers just 17 lines and says fewer than 100 words total.
Sting Passed on Kyle Reese
Rock musician Sting was in the running to play Kyle Reese but turned it down because James Cameron was not yet an established director.
Biehn Thought the Script Was Silly
Michael Biehn first read the script and thought it was silly, only signing on after meeting Cameron. He prepared for Kyle Reese by studying the Polish resistance movement in World War II.