Arnold Schwarzenegger's Shocking Health Crisis Revealed During Terminator: Dark Fate Filming

Summary

Arnold Schwarzenegger experienced a life-threatening health scare during what was intended to be a non-invasive surgery months before filming Terminator: Dark Fate.

The surgeons inadvertently pierced his heart wall, necessitating surgical intervention to halt the internal bleeding. Consequently, Schwarzenegger endured rigorous training and depended on a reliable support team to ensure his timely readiness for filming.

In a recent announcement, Schwarzenegger declared his retirement from the Terminator franchise, a move that could potentially benefit the franchise by paving the way for fresh narratives featuring new characters to surface.

Arnold Schwarzenegger shares a story about his near-death health scare prior to shooting Terminator: Dark Fate. Since his debut as the T-800 in James Cameron's 1984 original, Schwarzenegger has appeared in various capacities in all five subsequent films. In the most recent installment, 2019's Terminator: Dark Fate, both Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton returned to portray their iconic characters.

Schwarzenegger recently shared in a video on The Pump (via Insider) that just before the filming of Terminator: Dark Fate was about to begin, a serious issue occurred during a supposedly non-invasive surgical procedure.

The actor, who was born with a heart defect called aortic stenosis and had already undergone two heart surgeries in the past, narrates how doctors informed him that they unintentionally punctured his heart wall during the procedure. This resulted in the need to perform open-heart surgery to stop the internal bleeding. Hear Schwarzenegger's account of this ordeal in the following comments:

"I was overwhelmed with panic. I uttered, 'Wonderful. This is just fantastic news.' I found myself caught up in a dire situation. Now, how do I find a way out of this mess? I needed to change my approach. Pull myself together, adjust my mindset, and think, 'Alright, my priority now is to leave this hospital.'

"I must have appeared foolish, clumsily traversing the corridors, but the essential point was that I was taking action. The doctors had emphasized the importance of exercising my lungs, warning that contracting pneumonia could lead to death."

I was determined to intensify my exercise routine and leave the house promptly to resume my training. In just three months, I was slated to begin filming Terminator 6, requiring me to be in peak physical condition. The role demanded constant movement, running, lifting, and engaging in intense fight sequences.

With the encouragement and motivation from my fellow cast members, I regained my energy and enthusiasm. Once filming for Terminator 6 commenced, I felt completely revitalized.

Can The Terminator Franchise Live On Without Arnold Schwarzenegger?

Despite not having any lines of dialogue or participating in any filming, Schwarzenegger's digital appearance in Terminator Salvation holds significance as he has been featured in every installment of the franchise. However, with Schwarzenegger retiring from the Terminator franchise, it is uncertain if it can continue without him. The future of the franchise has been uncertain due to the divisive nature of Terminator Genisys and the commercial underperformance of its 2019 sequel. Cameron, who is working on a script for Terminator 7, is waiting to see how real-world AI technology develops before progressing further with the project. Given the current prominence of AI in Hollywood and other circles, the franchise could potentially be reinvigorated with a groundbreaking and relevant concept.

While Schwarzenegger has played a significant role in the franchise, it appears that it may be necessary to part ways with the T-800 and the Connor storyline as a whole. The younger generation lacks the same connection to the 40-year-old franchise that older audiences possess, and opting for a new narrative within the same universe could be the most promising direction to take. The future of The Terminator remains uncertain, but it is undeniable that Schwarzenegger has made a monumental contribution to the franchise.