Linda Hamilton makes return count in new 'Terminator' film (2024)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — For the new “Terminator” film, it was seemingly easy to bring back Arnold Schwarzenegger as the human-looking cyborg assassin because of his devotion to the franchise. But having Linda Hamilton return as Sarah Connor was a tougher decision considering she’d already turned down a chance to reprise her iconic role.

It took Hamilton six weeks to decide whether she wanted to portray Connor, the waitress-turned-warrior who along with Schwarzenegger made the first two “Terminator” movies among the best action films ever made.

Her hesitation stemmed from the fear that a return as Connor in “Terminator: Dark Fate” might not live up to the hype of the earlier films.

“I was terrified,” she recalled. “I really didn’t want to disappoint Sarah Connor. That’s where I go when I’m terrified. You usually regret what you didn’t do. So I thought, ‘If I’m this terrified, then maybe that’s the reason to do it.’”

Another convincing factor for Hamilton’s return was James Cameron, who directed the first two films and would serve as a producer on “Dark Fate,” which arrives in theaters Friday. She passed on the opportunity to appear in 2003’s “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” believing she had “completed the character’s story” and because of Cameron’s absence, calling him the “magic ingredient.”

Hamilton was concerned with “Dark Fate” messing with the legacy of the uber-popular “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” But she said Cameron’s emails from three years ago detailing the pros and cons of her playing Connor and his enthusiasm about the project helped put her at ease.

The new film ignores three of the franchise’s previous movies including 2015’s “Terminator: Genisys,” which fizzled with domestic audiences but had a strong turnout overseas. “Dark Fate” picks up soon after the events of “T2.”

This time, Connor and an augmented soldier named Grace, played by Mackenzie Davis, must protect a young Mexican girl Dani (Natalia Reyes) who is being hunted by a newly modified liquid Terminator from the future.

Hamilton says Connor still has a vengeful heart against Terminators, yet grudgingly reunites with Schwarzenegger, a time-traveling killing-machine who’s developed a conscience. Connor’s character is also not a fan of humans because “humankind builds machines that create their own death,” the actress said.

“Sarah has nothing else left, but vengeance,” Hamilton said. “She’s a woman without a country. She has no mission, no son; broken, dark, black heart.”

Schwarzenegger said the 63-year-old Hamilton brought some “freshness” back into the franchise.

“I thought that she set the bar really high again, just like she did in 1991,” Schwarzenegger said of Hamilton, who trained for a year to get in fighting shape. “Especially as a woman in her 60s now. There’s no action lady out there that I know of who’s in her 60s doing what she does. Only Cameron really has the (courage) to do something like that. But he always feels quite comfortable with those kinds of ideas, especially women action heroes.”

Hamilton praised Schwarzenegger for his work as well as her female co-stars, Davis and Reyes. But sometimes, she said it was a struggle to find the voice of their female characters with an all-male screenwriter team.

Hamilton said initially the writers had a hard time writing “organic” dialogue between her and Davis’ character. She called the process a fail at first and sometimes declined to recite certain lines, until everyone got on the same page.

The results have been met with mixed reviews, with some criticizing the dialogue between female characters.

“They really had trouble getting the script together,” she said. “There were so many writers. They were four months late delivering it to me, because they didn’t want me to read the first pass. In the end, I think they really did a bang up job. But it was really changing throughout, even as we were shooting. That was wacky to me, because I never really had to work that way and try to fill in the blanks when you don’t quite know where you’ve been or where you’re going or when you’re going to learn that. Acting is a linear job. You want to know precisely where I just come from, where I’m going and I fill in those moments with as much authenticity as I can. There were some issues with the script, but ultimately I think we got it worked out.”

Hamilton believes her input helped serve the film, her character and others well.

“In the end, I know her best,” she said. “That is the advantage of having played someone over a 35-year period. Otherwise, in all my other work, I would let the greater minds have their way. But not this time.”

___

Follow AP Entertainment Writer Jonathan Landrum Jr. on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MrLandrum31

Linda Hamilton makes return count in new 'Terminator' film (2024)

FAQs

Is Linda Hamilton in the new Terminator? ›

Her work has previously appeared on ET Canada, Metro and the Mail Online. Linda Hamilton is "done" playing Sarah Connor. The 67-year-old starred as the character in The Terminator (1984), before returning for Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) and eventually starring in Terminator: Dark Fate (2019).

How much did Linda Hamilton get paid for Terminator 2? ›

Hamilton received roughly $1 million, which she described as "quite a bit more" than her earnings for The Terminator, but expressed disappointment at the pay disparity between her and Schwarzenegger.

Was Linda Hamilton in the original Terminator? ›

The Terminator might be synonymous with Arnold Schwarzenegger, but he's not the only star who has been a part of the Terminator universe since the beginning. Linda Hamilton played Sarah Connor in the original 1984 hit as well as in sequels Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Terminator: Genisys, and Terminator: Dark Fate.

How old was Linda Hamilton when she filmed Terminator? ›

In the original screenplay of The Terminator (1984), the character she played, Sarah Connor, was 19 years old. It was decision of James Cameron to make the character somewhat older to fit into Hamilton's age. In real life, Linda was 27 when filming started and turned 28 before the film was released.

Who will replace Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator? ›

It looks like Timothy Olyphant shall be the chosen one. The Hitman star is set to voice the terse, redoubtable Terminator – the epic character once portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Terminator franchise – in the forthcoming anime series, Terminator Zero.

Who is the final girl in Terminator? ›

Sarah Connor is the Final Girl of the Terminator franchise. She is portrayed by Linda Hamilton in the first three Terminator movies, Lena Headey in the TV series, and Emilia Clarke in Terminator: Genisys.

Are Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton friends? ›

Mark – Tell me a little bit about your TV series Beauty and the Beast, and working with Ron Perlman. Linda – Ron is the love of my life. He and I are still close, and really good friends. We had a ball doing that show.

How much did Arnold Schwarzenegger get paid for a Terminator? ›

Schwarzenegger gets his breakout role in James Cameron's “The Terminator.” He was paid $750,000 for the blockbuster. Schwarzenegger releases “Twins,” his most profitable film. The comedy grossed more than $215 million globally at the box office.

Why didn t Linda Hamilton do Terminator 3? ›

Hamilton later explained her decision not to reprise her role: "They offered me a part. I read it and I knew my character arc was so complete in the first two, and in the third one it was a negligible character. She died halfway through and there was no time to mourn her.

How old was Arnold in Terminator 1? ›

The 1984 film "The Terminator" was released on October 26, 1984, directed by James Cameron. Arnold Schwarzenegger was 37 years old when he filmed it. Audiences all across the world are entertained by his portrayal of the vicious cyborg dispatched from the future to kill the character of Sarah Connor.

Who was first choice for Terminator? ›

OJ Simpson was originally cast as The Terminator. The ex-NFL star-turned actor, who had roles in films including 'The Naked Gun' film trilogy, was set to play the cyborg in James Cameron's 1984 sci-fi classic, according to Arnold Schwarzenegger, 76, who landed the role.

Who is the most famous Terminator? ›

A prominent model throughout the films is the T-800, commonly known as the Terminator and portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Time travel is a common aspect of the franchise, with humans and Terminators often sent back to alter the past and change the outcome of the future.

Are Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton friends? ›

Happy birthday to my dear friend Linda Hamilton. One of my favorite co-stars, a true badass, and a wonderful human being. I'm pumped to be back together again.

Why wasn t Linda Hamilton in Terminator 5? ›

Earlier this year, she told Business Insider that there was no going back to Terminator in her future. In fact, Hamilton wondered why we would all try to do this again after so many tries. She gestured towards the larger trend in Hollywood around relaunches and hoped for some different angles. "I'm done.

How old was Edward Furlong when he filmed Terminator 2? ›

He won Saturn and MTV Movie Awards for his breakthrough performance at age 13 as John Connor in James Cameron's 1991 science fiction action film Terminator 2: Judgment Day, which was followed by a mini-sequel, short attraction film T2-3D: Battle Across Time.

Who is the female Terminator in Terminator 2? ›

Linda Hamilton

Did Linda Hamilton work out for Terminator 2? ›

This regimine is hardly new for Hamilton, back in the day she worked out three hours a day for six days a week while filming the second Terminator film, and could bench press 40 kilograms for those renowned “Linda Hamilton arms”.

Who is the new Terminator lady? ›

Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor, the mother of John Connor, the former future leader of the Human Resistance in the war against Skynet. Now a battle-hardened senior woman and left alone after John's death, Sarah hunts and kills Skynet's remaining Terminators to prevent Judgment Day and forestall the coming conflict.

What happened to Leslie Hamilton Gearren? ›

She died on 22 August 2020 in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, USA.

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