Arnold Schwarzenegger Once Sought Agatha Christie’s Help to Revive His Career
Arnold Schwarzenegger, renowned as Mr. Universe, a global film icon, and former Governor of California, has achieved a lot. After his governorship ended, he aimed to revive his acting career, but the transition was challenging. Despite his efforts, including starring in action thrillers reminiscent of his earlier success, Schwarzenegger struggled to find a film that resonated with audiences.
In the early 2010s, Schwarzenegger hoped for a career comeback with the film ‘Sabotage’. This movie, loosely inspired by Agatha Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’, was meant to revive his action star status. The film featured Schwarzenegger as Breacher, a DEA agent leading a team that steals from a cartel and faces mysterious deaths. Although the film was directed by David Ayer and had a $35 million budget, it was a disappointment, grossing only $18 million and receiving poor reviews.
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Schwarzenegger’s return to Hollywood was also marred by personal controversies, including a scandal that led to his divorce from Maria Shriver. Additionally, his project ‘Cry Macho’, which he saw as a comeback vehicle, was eventually completed by Clint Eastwood years later. Schwarzenegger’s subsequent roles, like those in ‘The Expendables 2’ and ‘Escape Plan’, as well as his first leading role in a decade with ‘The Last Stand’, failed to rejuvenate his career.
His attempt to salvage his status with ‘Terminator: Genisys’ and ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ also fell short of expectations. While ‘Dark Fate’ was better received, it did not perform well financially.
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Now at 77, Schwarzenegger has shifted focus from acting to political activism, business ventures, and writing. His 2023 Netflix docu-series ‘Arnold’ reflects on his diverse career, and he continues to pursue new projects like the series ‘FUBAR’. Despite the ups and downs, Schwarzenegger remains determined and active, embodying his famous catchphrase, “I’ll be back.”
–Farheen Ali
