Digital Schwarzenegger set for McG’s Terminator

Turns out Schwarzenegger has been secretly working with helmer McG and the effects team to reprise his signature role … without lifting a finger. A body-cast mold of Schwarzenegger, created when he first appeared as the muscle-ripped cyborg, provided the basis for a digital-effects version of his famous character. The figure appears in “Terminator Salvation” as a living, breathing actor. Schwarzenegger viewed the resulting footage and gave his go-ahead just in time for McG to include the footage before the helmer completes his cut of the movie. Warners first screens the pic in early May and opens it May 21. – from Variety

Here’s what Arnie said previously, via AICN:

Right now, they’re looking at the technology and see if it is possible to create a technology where they can use my image in the film without me actually filming, because I made it clear I don’t have the time… and if they shoot outside the state, I would not participate… But I would be willing to be in the movie if they get the technology together. We have a great relationship with the people making the movie.. McG is the director, he’s a terrific talented guy. I’m going to be at the premiere, I told him I want to be as supportive as possible.

I think that within the next week or so, we will see if they are technologically able to do that. It’s terrific because they basically take technology out of Terminator 1 and use that walk of mine, and somehow bring it in… it’s just a brief scene, where we see one of the leads run into a room and he sees the future terminators because it’s kind of a prequel… then he gets thrown around, then he goes in another room and there’s other terminators, so there’s supposed to be all these new terminators. I think it’s cool to continue on with the franchise, and in case I want to jump over again and get into the acting when we’re through here.

So he hasn’t had to do a single thing! The body cast has just been sitting around for 25 years and was just pulled out of storage someplace. I hope he didn’t charge them too much for the privilege of using his likeness. I suppose Roland Kickinger provided motion capture, or an on-set torso for the acting Arnie to be pasted over…? – from Slashfilm