He was the ultimate action hero of the ’80s, only to become a comedic actor with poor artistic and commercial results in the ’90s.
After a prudent silence, Arnold Schwarzenegger, at 52 years old, attempts a grand comeback with ‘End of Days,’ a fantasy film supported by great special effects. Additionally, he hints at his intention to try his luck in politics, although he has never forgotten his social activism aimed at promoting tolerance and perhaps cleaning up a dark family past. Arnold Schwarzenegger returns, after his heart condition, with a renewed desire to change many things.
About his illness: “I needed replacement parts.”
Is there a desire for a vital change behind all the rumors?
”Of course, I would like that; there is always a desire for change in my life. But within cinema, there are so many characters I’ve never played and other genres I can explore that would be a challenge. That’s the beauty of this profession; you continually encounter another character, another story that you haven’t done yet, and that is interesting. There are many things to keep me active in my career, many other places to go.”
His heart condition kept him away from cinema for several months. Does he believe that could be the driving force behind his desire for change?
”Regarding my illness, I must say that I am now in better shape than ever in my life, and of course, better than before the operation because before the diagnosis, I didn’t know what I had. I was a high-functioning machine that, due to its continuous use, was breaking down because it needed replacement parts above all else. That’s what happens with machines that have high functionality; they wear out their parts faster than others due to usage. That’s what happened to me for being so active. But since then, everything is in perfect condition. I can perform my action scenes without problems, even the ones a stunt double would do, and everything is much better than before because I am operating at full capacity.”
What is the hallmark that brings together Arnold Schwarzenegger’s films?
”It’s a detail I prefer not to think about. It’s like asking a champion athlete what their secret is. I once asked an Austrian champion that question. I wanted to know how he shortened his times, and his coach pulled me aside, asking me not to ask him something like that because it’s better not to think about those things. It’s better to not think and just do it. To have that secret within you. You have it, you execute it, but you don’t think about it. The more you analyze things, the more you mess them up. I am not an analytical person. I don’t like to think about the work; I want to execute it and let others decide what unifies my work. I don’t have to dwell on something like that. It is what it is.”
About his role in ‘End of Days’: “I’m interested because I play the reluctant hero.”
Can you share any details about your latest film, ‘End of Days’?
”The best description is that it’s pure entertainment that tells an interesting story about the Devil’s return to Earth. I am the one who stands between the Devil and his mission, and I end up becoming the pawn in the struggle between God and the Devil because, in the end, that’s what happens—the Devil occupies my body, and it becomes a confrontation between the two for my faith, which is what sends the Devil to Hell.”
Do you consider yourself a religious person?
”Yes, I may not have much, but I have faith. I am a practicing Catholic. But even if I weren’t religious, ‘End of Days’ would still be a film that would interest me because I play the reluctant hero. It’s a common mistake for actors to confuse their lives with their films. They are two different things that are often confused. ‘End of Days’ is a movie, a good movie. What’s on the screen is a film that tells an interesting story set in a very suitable context where it could happen, but that’s all.”
The director, Peter Hyams, has described your role as the most human of your career.
”Perhaps because my starting point is a very vulnerable person who has nothing because he has lost everything, someone who wants to commit suicide because he is very unhappy, an alcoholic after losing his wife and son, who were murdered 15 years ago. His life is going nowhere until he gets the chance to protect this girl who needs help. No one knows what’s going on, what happens to him; he only knows about his dreams with the Devil, where he has sexual encounters with Satan. He is being given pills, going to a psychiatrist, but he doesn’t know he has been chosen. He catches everyone off guard—me, the Vatican, everyone. And I find myself defending this young woman whom the Vatican wants to kill so that the Devil does not succeed.”
It’s less heroic than some of his other roles.
”That’s what I meant by a reluctant hero—someone who doesn’t want to be in this situation. It’s the opposite of my other films where I’ve played successful people on a mission. This time, I’m portraying someone who has problems in every aspect—professional, personal—and on top of that, he finds himself caught in this mess.”
It’s not as macho as in his other films.
”I don’t think the muscles have much to do with the rest of my filmography either. In most of my characters, muscles aren’t that important. Just look at ‘Kindergarten Cop’ or ‘Jingle All the Way,’ where the muscles are irrelevant. Sure, ‘End of Days’ is an action film, but my character isn’t an action hero like in ‘Eraser.’”
Was it your idea to humanize the character?
”No, but as soon as the idea was presented to me, I thought it was brilliant because everyone has been talking about the millennium and what’s going to happen at that time for years. There’s no consensus—some talk about a war, others about the return of Jesus, or that computers will stop working, the whole Y2K phenomenon. So, I thought this idea was great for a successful film, in addition to being a big hit and well-made. The notion that people will be scared with the arrival of the millennium is a good advantage for the movie.”
His sense of humor has been clear in many of his films. Is there any hint of it in End of Days?
”If not my humor, at least Kevin Pollak’s. He spent the shoot impersonating me. The only thing he’s missing is the physical appearance. His role contains the humor of the film, and he does a great job, like Jim Belushi or Tom Arnold in True Lies—someone who’s natural with a joke and whose comedy comes effortlessly. It’s very effective because it provides that moment of humor that diffuses the tensions of the story.”
Will he try his hand at comedy again?
”I think it doesn’t matter how a character is written; it’s always you who steps into the role, and as screens get bigger and directors want extreme close-ups, you can’t lie when you show your eyes. In my case, I know I have a heart full of humor. I can laugh at myself and everything around me thanks to that humor, and it makes sense that it ends up showing on screen too.”
What can you say about the long-delayed I’m Legend?
”I’m Legend will eventually become a reality. It’s still being written at Warner Studios, but they’ve experienced so many changes in recent months that they’ve become fearful of big projects. When they realize they haven’t had a hit in 400 years, they’ll return to star-driven films and big-budget productions. I’m Legend will happen because it’s a brilliant idea. The only problem is that it’s a movie that requires spending money to look good on screen.”
At least, if you don’t want to confess your fears about the millennium, what are your plans for bidding farewell to the century?
”My wife would love to know because I never tell her what we’re doing for the weekend. I don’t know, and I don’t want to know because when you’re working, you have to stick to a perfectly calculated schedule for five months. So when I’m not filming, I prefer to leave everything to improvisation. Anyway, I don’t have to worry about the millennium because, in my opinion, it won’t come until next year. So while everyone is concerned this year, I’ll worry about it all next year.”
