Few Hollywood personalities are as big and as bold asArnold Schwarzenegger’s. The famed actor, producer, politician, and professional bodybuilder is one of the most well-known and beloved icons of cinema. Throughout his fifty-plus year movie career, he’s portrayed an abundance of truly unforgettable characters, such as Conan the Barbarian, John Matrix, and the Terminator. While his action hero roles are what made him a superstar, he’s also shown great skill as anactor in dramas and horror, and even has aflair for impeccable comedic timing. Outside of acting, his real-life persona is just as lively and bombastic as his characters, and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.
Although his legacy is already well-established, we believe the 75-year-old “Austrian Oak” has plenty of great performances left up his (tight) sleeves. Specifically, we think it’s high time he took on a new character who’s worthy of spawning a series of films, because who can ever get enough Arnie? Here’s why Arnold Schwarzenegger could still lead a massively successful movie franchise.
He’s Done It Before
Schwarzenegger is no stranger to successful franchises; the man is the face – and, for many, the living embodiment – of theTerminatorfranchise. He’s starred in fiveTerminatorfilms since 1984, and though the last couple of films in the series weren’t particularly successful, there is no denying that the franchise holds an insurmountable place in action-blockbuster history. Additionally, Schwarzenegger has starred in another series – theConanseries – which would have taken off hadConan the Destroyernot been dumbed down and slapped with a PG rating.Conan the Destroyerscarred Schwarzenegger,as Den of Geek explains, “if the experience ofConanhad taught Schwarzenegger anything, it was to approach sequels with caution.” The good news is that those scars seem to have healed, as Schwarzenegger’s triumphant return to the role ofConan continues to be rumored about. Indeed, the speculation aroundThe Legend of Conan(Also known asKing Conan) makes one wonder if his next big franchise has alreadyhadits first entry; in other words, perhapsConanwill spawn a multi-sequel series, or maybeCommando’sJohn Matrix will return for another mission or two. It seems nearly every character Schwarzenegger has ever played has become an icon that could have a series dedicated to it.
Related:These Are the Best Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies, Ranked
The Time is Right
Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, audiences around the world simply couldn’t get enough Schwarzenegger. By the late ‘90s, however, his favor with audiences shifted, as preferences tilted more in the direction of the less-superhuman, more-realistic John McClane-esque heroes of films likeDie HardandPoint Break. Over-saturation of the action genre burned a lot of people out on Arnie’s signature brand of carnage for a while, but now the time is right for a return to roots-y action cinema. On top of this, superhero movies are very much in vogue at the moment, and Arnie’s super-strength and muscly image would fit in perfectly with many of the heroes of contemporary action cinema. Additionally, audiences love “comebacks.” 2022 alone saw the glorious return of Sylvester Stallone to crime-action withTulsa King, and legendaryIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doomactor Ke Huy Quan had a critically-acclaimed return to the big screen withEverything Everywhere All at Once.
He’s Still Going Strong
Another great reason for Arnie to lead a new franchise is the fact that, in spite of his advanced age, he’s still going strong – quite literally. One look at the actor’s Instagram profile will verify that he’s still killing it in the gym. Not only is he in great shape, but with over 23 million followers on the social media platform, he’s clearly never left the spotlight. Despite his last film to date being2019’sTerminator: Dark Fate, the high-profile actor is still making headlines, most recently as heappears on the red carpetto support his good friend James Cameron for the launch ofAvatar: The Way of Water.
Related:The 16 Most Essential Arnold Schwarzenegger Moments in Movies, Ranked
He’ll Always Be Back
AlthoughTerminator: Dark Fatewas a box-office bomb – leading many to worry about the fate of both theTerminatorfranchise and Schwarzenegger’s next projects – the film was critically well-received. Besides, Schwarzenegger is well-acquainted with overcoming adversity, and coming back into the limelight in full force. He was born in Austria into an abusive household, but that didn’t stop him from becoming Mr. Olympia. Additionally, despite moving to the United States with poor English and a thick Austrian accent, he became a Hollywood megastar. When he became the Governor of California, many wondered if his acting career would fall apart.As the Guardian said at the time, “During his time out of the spotlight, no action star has emerged to challenge the eminent position Schwarzenegger won in the 1980s and ’90s. Yet, at 63, he might struggle to return to high-octane fare.” The ex-Governator is now 75, and has shown no signs of slowing down any time soon. In fact, Schwarzenegger just finished filming a newaction series for Netflix entitledFubar, set to release in 2023. All in all, the time for Schwarzenegger’s next big comeback is here. He promised he’d be back; why shouldn’t we believe him?
