The Terminator movie franchise would be nothing without it’s star, Arnold Schwarzenegger – who plays the T-800 cyborg himself.
From the first movie in 1984 to the sixth and final installment in 2019, he was the only cast member to appear in every film.
However, it’s a little-known that fact that it actually took some convincing to get the actor on board for Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.
The third film had a tough act to follow after Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) which was a huge box-office success, prompting creators to turn it into a franchise – fans still call it ‘the best sequel ever made’.
According to Screen Rant, Schwarzenegger was reluctant as James Cameron would no longer be director because he was busy with the Titanic movie and felt that the second film already wrapped up the story.
The Terminator movie franchise would be nothing without it’s star, Arnold Schwarzenegger – who plays the T-800 cyborg himself. Arnold Schwarzenegger pictured in the second movie in the franchise during his first of many encounters with the T-1000
Terminator III: Rise of the Machines: From the first movie in 1984 to the sixth and final installment in 2019, he was the only cast member to appear in every film
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However, Cameron encouraged Schwarzenegger to go for it if the actor was happy with the script and paid a lot, so he did.
The director allegedly told the actor that they had equal claims to the franchise and he wouldn’t mind him doing more movies without his involvement.
Cameron’s blessing was only the start of what he needed – next, he gave producers a lengthy list of demands he wanted in exchange for his return.
The most important of which was a huge $30 million payday.
Buzzfeed reported that the actor got a $29.25 million ‘pay or play’ fee, meaning even if the movie doesn’t go ahead he would still get the cash.
Schwarzenegger would also be given an extra $1.6 million for every filming day that ran over the planned schedule of 19 weeks.
Also on his flamboyant list was $1.5 million on private jets, a trailer that was used specifically as his own personal gym, personal bodyguards’, around the clock limousines and three-bedroom hotel suites.
However, it turned out to be worth it for the filmmakers in the end as Terminator 3 made a whopping $430 million at the box office and led to a further three movies making it to our screens.
Terminator II: Arnold Schwarzenegger seen near the climax of the second movie Judgement Day, which made a staggering $520m at the box office after its 1991 release
The Terminator: Arnold Schwarzenegger in the original Terminator movie from 1984
Unsurprisingly, the action star isn’t the only Hollywood actor to provide lists of demands – Pulp Fiction’s Uma Thurman reportedly had lots of requests for a film that was never made.
The movie was Eloise in Paris, which was based on a 1950’s children’s book of the same name by Kay Thompson.
It was widely reported that before filming even ended, the project was cancelled due to a breach of contract dispute that was brought by Uma Thurman’s legal team – Karuna Dream Inc.
The actress’ contract was leaked later that year, revealing a list of demands that she had set out.
According to Female First, paperwork revealed that Thurman would need a luxury dressing room, first class air travel, a minimum ‘three-bedroom hotel suite’ and three cell phones to use while filming.
