1984's The Terminator is a cult classic among its fans and most followers of science fiction movies, and has even been preserved in the National Film Registry by the US Library of Congress. Yet the movie that was released was worlds apart in many ways from what creator James Cameron originally envisioned for the movie.
James Camerons concept art of the Future War has yet to be fully realized!
The movies sequel, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, released 7 years later and a cultural phenomenon within itself famously featured two Terminators sent back in time – one to terminate young John Connor, the other to protect him. Yet this dynamic, and the designs of the two Terminators were originally intended for the 1984 original. Unfortunately for Cameron back in 1983 when he was filming the Terminator, computer generated imagery (CGI) was nowhere near advanced enough to realise the vision he had for the movies villain; a liquid chrome man that could alter its appearance; AKA the T-1000. Because Cameron wanted the villain to be more powerful/advanced than the movies hero, originally a reprogrammed T-800, when technological necessity demanded a rewrite of the movie the former hero became the villain, this time pitted against a human protagonist; and thus Kyle Reese was born (on paper at least).
Working with William Wisher Jr., Cameron rewrote the whole dynamic of the movie, adding the “grandfather paradox” that would underpin the franchises themes of fate and destiny. As well as co-writing the movie Cameron had also drawn and painted some concept art on black paper of key moments from the movies narrative such as the iconic future war landscape (pictured above), when the Terminator rises from the flames of the burning wreckage of the gas tanker and when the Terminators disembodied torso pursues Sarah Connor in the movies climatic finale. Included with these pieces of concept art were paintings of American actor Lance Henriksen depicted as the Terminator...
James Camerons concept art showing Lance Henriksen as The Terminator!
To get the movie greenlit Henriksen, a friend of Cameron's since Cameron's directorial debut Piranha 2: The Spawning, had accompanied Cameron in full costume as the movies villain; an anonymous character able to blend into the crowd. Orion Pictures and Hemdale Productions where so impressed with the idea they arranged for upcoming action movie legend and former Mr. Universe Arnold Schwarzenegger to meet with Cameron over lunch for the role of the movies human protagonist Kyle Reese. Yet despite that both future star and director where both re-imagining the movie with Arnold as the movies villain, neither spoke out. Later, after their initial meeting, Arnold had his agent contact Cameron's agent, and the Terminator was recast, with Henriksen given the role of police detective Hal Vukovich – Cameron had promised him the role of Bishop in Aliens to compensate.
With Arnold cast as the Terminator the atmosphere of the movie changed, with the movies large than life antagonist having changed from a stealthy infiltrator to a freight train with no brakes. This personification of the Terminator, as played by Arnold, and as an underlining element of the performances from subsequent actors in the role of a Terminator (Robert Patrick, Kristanna Loken and Lee Byung-Hun) has become a staple throughout modern science fiction, seen in movies with similar cyborg or mechanical characters such as RoboCop and the agents of The Matrix, among many others.
Arnold Schwarzeneggers iconic portrayal of the Terminator has stood the test of time!
Strange to think we almost had a darker movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger as Kyle Reese and Lance Henriksen as the Terminator, a love scene with Arnold and co-star Linda Hamilton, or even stranger Lance Henriksen facing off against a chrome version of B-movie classic monster the blob!
