Arnold Schwarzenegger is an icon, but there's one line, in particular, that's followed him throughout his entire career:
"I'll be back."
During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor was asked how he feels about being associated with various catchphrases ("Get to the choppa'!" immediately springs to mind), but specifically, the one he's repeatedly said as part of the Terminator franchise. It's become a staple of his role as the T-800, a character Arnie has sadly confirmed he won't be "back" as.
"I think about how it was an accident," Schwarzenegger recalls. "[Terminator director] Jim Cameron and I were debating how to say the line because I was not comfortable with saying 'I’ll.' I said, 'I think it’s stronger to say, ‘I will be back.' Cameron said, '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.'"
"I said, 'You tell me how to act every f***ing minute! What are you talking about?!' So he says, 'Arnold, you think it sounds weird. It doesn’t. What makes it great is that you sound different than me or Charlie over there. That’s what makes it work. So just say it 10 times. Say it different ways. I’ll keep rolling the camera. Then we’ll choose one.'
"So they set it up, and I say: '(Flatly) I’ll be back...(cheerful) I’ll be back...(guttural)...I’ll beeee baaaack.' It sounded stupid."
Schwarzenegger went on to confirm that, from when the movie was released right up until now, people come up to him to ask if he'll say the line. He's fine with it, though.
"It’s wild. I’m the last one to get complicated and say, 'I don’t want to compare myself to my movies or use a line from my movies,'" he says. "Hell, Clint Eastwood takes the clothes from his movies and that’s all he wears. So why would I be worried about using a line?"
Arnie won't be back as the Terminator, but we're sure he still has more iconic roles - and lines! - left in him!