15 Things That Almost Ruined The Terminator Franchise

1. OJ Simpson Was Nearly The Terminator

It€™s impossible to imagine anyone else in the role of the Terminator. Cyberdyne Systems T-800 model 101 is now, and shall forever be synonymous with Arnie€™s leather-wearin€™, shades-stealin€™ badass.

Thankfully, producer Mike Medavoy€™s choice for the role didn€™t pan out: OJ Simpson. The athlete-turned-actor was a strong contender for the role in early days of casting. So confident was Medavoy that mock artwork of him as the cyborg was cobbled together. Yep, they did a poster with OJ as the Terminator. All of this took place before he was deemed €œtoo wholesome€ by the studio, a move that€™s now shaded by its morbid irony.

After that, the role didn€™t fall into Arnie€™s lap. Simpson wasn€™t the only actor Cameron and co. considered before the beefcake signed on. Mel Gibson was offered the role and turned it down. As did Randy Quaid. Michael Douglas and Kevin Kline too.

It€™s still a damn shame Tom Selleck turned it down though. What we wouldn€™t give for a moustachioed killer €˜borg.

Which other near misses and terrible moments almost ruined the Terminator franchise for you? Share your thoughts below in the comments thread.

Contributor
Contributor

Gem is a freelance writer, musician and librarian. Her hobbies include: recreating movie death scenes from LEGO, concocting new types of bird suet cakes, walking on fresh snow and playing the glockenspiel - all at the same time.