‘Terminator Genisys’: Schwarzenegger on Bulking Up for Role, Says ‘Terminator Salvation’ ‘Sucked’

He said he would be back, and he kept his word.

ByABC News
March 31, 2015, 8:35 AM
Edward Furlong, left, and Arnold Schwarzenegger in a scene from "Terminator 2: Judgement Day."
Edward Furlong, left, and Arnold Schwarzenegger in a scene from "Terminator 2: Judgement Day."
Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage/Getty Images

— -- He said he would be back -- and he kept his word.

Thirty-one years after the original “Terminator” -- the blockbuster science-fiction film that gave moviegoers the memorable phrase “I’ll be back” -- former California governor and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger is returning to the blockbuster franchise for “Terminator: Genisys.

The fifth film in the series, “Terminator: Genisys” also stars “Game of Thrones” actress Emilia Clarke as Sarah Connor, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” star Jason Clarke (no relation to Emilia) as John Connor and “Divergent” actor Jai Courtney as Kyle Reese.

When ABC News correspondent asked Schwarzenegger whether the second film in the series was the best, Schwarzenegger, 67, replied: “I really can’t say that.”

He added that the three "Terminator" films in which he appeared "had their own little personalities, and kind of ... interesting storylines.”

"You didn't do the fourth? Is that right?" Watt asked, and Schwarzenegger replied, laughing: “I didn't, no ... thank God.”

“Why, was it bad?” Watt asked.

“It sucked,” Schwarzenegger said.

The fourth film in the series, “Terminator Salvation,” was released in 2009. The film, starring Christian Bale, Sam Worthington and Moon Bloodgood, was poorly received by critics.

In “Genisys,” Schwarzenegger’s character fights his younger self.

“Here the challenge was, how do I have the same frame as I had in the 1984 movie?” the former champion bodybuilder said, adding that he “wasn't that far away from it.”

“So, it, I was, let's say at an eight. So, I had to push it up to a ten … Within two months I got to that size,” Schwarzenegger said.

Asked whether “Genisys” would be the first in a new trilogy, the stars nodded, then Emilia Clarke confirmed it.

“Yes. Yes, it is. Yeah,” she said.