Terminator Genisys: Schwarzenegger Talks Training And Nutrition!
Arnold had to add mass to match his 1984 self for the fifth installment of the Terminator franchise. See how he did it, and go see the movie July 1!
The latest incarnation of the Terminator movie franchise pits Arnold Schwarzenegger against... Arnold Schwarzenegger. At one point in the film he actually shares the screen with a CGI rendering of his immaculate 1984 self, courtesy of some remarkable visual effects.
It's been 30 years since Arnold first stood naked in front of Bill Paxton's punk crew, demanding their clothes, and his physique has undergone numerous changes over the decades. To match his former self, the modern Arnold had to reach into his bodybuilding repertoire to put on some mass!
"I had to gain the weight back," Arnold says. "I weighed 228 pounds in 1984 for that movie. I wanted to get that body weight back and get that same sort of size, so it is believable."
Terminator Genisys Trailer Arnold Schwarzenegger Interview
Watch the video - 4:24
A Long and Terrible War
The Terminator franchise has been thrilling and terrifying audiences for three decades. James Cameron's original sci-fi epic shot Schwarzenegger into superstardom, but to revive the series—this time under the guidance of director Alan Taylor—Arnold needed to regenerate the physique that made him famous.
The Olympia physique may not be realistic for a man in his 60s, but the Oak did an amazing job getting ready for the film. In addition to his refreshing some of his classic bodybuilding training, Arnold added protein drinks twice per day in between meals and increased his caloric intake with high-protein food.
The Terminator Franchise
"Terminator" — 1984, James Cameron
"Terminator 2: Judgment Day" — 1991, James Cameron
"Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" — 2003, Jonathan Mostow
"Terminator Salvation" — 2009, McG
"Terminator Genisys" — 2015, Alan Taylor
"Today, food supplements come in packages, so it was easy to be reminded all the time," Arnold says. "You just can't get enough nutrition and protein from food alone."
He also had to train his cardiovascular system to endure the long days on set. "I know with stunts, it's not just doing it the one time," Arnold says. "You do it once, twice, five times... you do this stuff all day long. You have to be in great athletic physical shape for those kind of things. The punishment is already hard enough, but endurance is the key."
Bodybuilding and years of training have made it possible for Arnold to quickly change his physique for movies like this. "Without sport, I would have never learned the lessons that are so important for life," Arnold says. "The bodybuilding and lifting background is really the foundation of everything I have done."
"Terminator Genisys" will be released in theaters nationwide July 1! Check out the movie when it hits the big screen, and click the banner below for your chance to win movie tickets and $1,000 in Arnold Schwarzenegger Series supplements!
