Arnold Schwarzenegger Wanted to Change His Most Iconic Line

Arnold Schwarzenegger is a man of many talents, but screenwriting apparently isn't one of them. The new three-part Netflix docuseries Arnold examines Schwarzenegger's long career as a body builder, actor, entrepreneur, governor, TV host and philanthropist, but reminds us that even a Terminator has its weaknesses (i.e. hydraulic presses and script writing).

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As Insider reported, the documentary recounts a tussle between Schwarzenegger and acclaimed writer/director James Cameron regarding the iconic "I'll be back" line from The Terminator.

"Sometime in the middle of the shoot, we're doing this police station scene," said Cameron, the director and screenwriter of The Terminator, in Arnold. "The line is, 'I'll come back.' It wasn't meant to be like a big moment at all. It was literally meant to be, on its face, 'No problem, I'll come back.' Arnold didn't say, 'I'll come back.' I said, 'Well, just say "I'll be back." Keep it simple.'"

Well "I'll be back" didn't sit well with Schwarzenegger, who thought it sounded "funny" for a cyborg to say, and wanted to swap out the line for "I will be back" because he thought it sounded more "machine-like."

Cameron disagreed and Schwarzenegger describes the argument as, "He says, 'Are you a writer?' and I said, 'No,' and he said, 'Well, don't tell me how to f*cking write.'"

Obviously history has proven time and again that no one should be telling Cameron how to "f*cking" do anything. His filmography, which boasts hits like The Terminator, Aliens, Titanic and Avatar is one of the most financially lucrative in the business.

But just because Arnold wanted to re-work the line, doesn't mean he didn't deliver the crap out of it in the film. What could have been a throw-away bit of dialogue turned out to be one of the most iconic lines in movie history because of Schwarzenegger's delivery.

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The film, which was only Cameron's second and an early hit for Schwarzenegger, became an immediate success, thrusting both men into the spotlight and launching two of Hollywood's most storied careers. Not to mention, The Terminator has gone on to become a massive franchise with five film sequels and a television spinoff.

Cameron was "absolutely right," according to Schwarzenegger. "So this just shows to you who was right and who was wrong," he said in the documentary.

Don't worry, Arnold, I doubt James Cameron could ride a horse through a hotel lobby.

Arnold is now available to stream on Netflix.

Next, Arnold Schwarzenegger Opens Up About His Lucky Life, First TV Series and Political Future