Arnold Schwarzenegger recently revealed how his rivalry with Sylvester Stallone influenced his approach to "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." In a discussion at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Schwarzenegger recounted his desire to amplify the violence in the sequel, aiming to surpass Stallone's on-screen kill count. He believed that escalating the body count was crucial to the film's success and his own competitive standing.
Schwarzenegger expressed his initial skepticism towards director James Cameron's vision of a "good" Terminator, questioning how a Terminator could be effective without a substantial number of kills. He humorously recalled advocating for "a few token bodies" to be added to the script, driven by his ambition to outshine Stallone. Schwarzenegger's focus was fixed on being the undisputed champion of on-screen carnage.
However, Cameron held firm to his vision, emphasizing a narrative that didn't revolve around excessive violence. Schwarzenegger recalled Cameron's disapproval of his bloodthirsty suggestions, describing him as a "very sick guy." Despite Schwarzenegger's protests, Cameron insisted that the Terminator would not kill anyone in the sequel, a decision that ultimately contributed to the film's massive success, grossing over $500 million worldwide.
Both Schwarzenegger and Stallone have openly discussed their past rivalry. Schwarzenegger, in his Netflix documentary "Arnold," admitted to needing an "enemy" and using Stallone's successes as motivation. He felt compelled to constantly one-up Stallone's action-packed films. Stallone corroborated this intense competition, describing their animosity as so strong that they couldn't be in the same room. Their rivalry, while fierce, ultimately pushed both actors to achieve remarkable success in the action genre.
