Arnold Schwarzenegger, one of the most iconic action stars of the 80s and 90s, is known for his blockbuster hits like Terminator, Conan the Barbarian, and Total Recall. Yet, even with a career that seemed unstoppable, the Austrian Oak has one major regret that still lingers—turning down a role that could have added another legendary film to his resume.
A Missed Opportunity: The Rock
In a career filled with memorable roles, there’s one film Arnold Schwarzenegger wishes he could have been a part of: The Rock. Directed by Michael Bay, the film tells the gripping story of General Hummel, a disgruntled military leader who takes drastic action after feeling betrayed by his government. He and his men seize control of the infamous Alcatraz prison, taking 81 tourists hostage and threatening to launch missiles filled with VX gas on San Francisco unless the U.S. government pays a hefty ransom.
The stakes are high, with chemical weapons expert Stanley Goodspeed (played by Nicolas Cage) and the only prisoner to ever escape Alcatraz, John Patrick Mason (Sean Connery), working together to stop Hummel and save countless lives. It’s a tense, high-octane action film that became a massive hit at the box office, grossing around $336 million worldwide.
But Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn’t in it. And it’s a decision he’s come to deeply regret.
The Script That Almost Ruined It All
Schwarzenegger has openly discussed how he turned down the role, citing the script as a major factor in his decision. “It’s the movie I regret not doing the most,” Schwarzenegger confessed in several interviews. “I really wish I had done The Rock, because I love the film. But when I was first offered the role, all I got was an 80-page script with a lot of scribbles and notes, and it didn’t seem finished.”
Schwarzenegger was already busy filming another project at the time and found the unpolished state of the script unsettling. “There were pages covered in notes like ‘This is crap,’ ‘Let’s not do this,’ and ‘Rewrite this,'” he recalled. “I was in the middle of filming another movie, and I didn’t know how to take it. It was clear to me that I couldn’t commit to it at that time.”
As a result, Arnold waited for the script to be rewritten and for the production to finalize the details. By the time the script was ready and the project was moving forward, The Rock had already found its star in Nicolas Cage.
Nicolas Cage Steals the Show
Looking back, Schwarzenegger admits that passing on The Rock was a huge misstep. While the film went on to become a commercial success, it’s also clear that Arnold’s iconic presence could have added a unique dimension to the character of Stanley Goodspeed. Despite his regret, Arnold reflects on the decision as a learning experience.
“It wasn’t that I didn’t want to do it,” he said. “I just didn’t think the script was ready at the time. But when they finally got it right, Nicolas Cage was already cast, and the rest, as they say, is history.”
Cage’s portrayal of the somewhat quirky yet heroic Goodspeed became one of his most memorable roles, and The Rock stands as one of the defining action films of the 90s. It also marked a turning point in Michael Bay’s career, solidifying his reputation as a master of high-energy, explosive filmmaking.
A Costly Regret
While Arnold Schwarzenegger has certainly had no shortage of success in his career, it’s easy to see why The Rock continues to weigh on his mind. The film’s success at the box office was undeniable, and the character of Stanley Goodspeed would have likely been a perfect fit for Schwarzenegger’s action-star persona. At the time, however, the choice seemed like the right one for Arnold, especially given the unpolished nature of the script.
It’s also worth noting that Schwarzenegger’s instincts, which led him to avoid films with unfinished scripts, are a large part of why he became such a reliable, bankable star. Many of his most successful projects came from scripts and stories he felt passionate about, such as Terminator and Predator, where the scripts were tighter and the potential for success was clearer.
Nonetheless, looking back at The Rock and its massive success—coupled with the knowledge that he could have been a part of it—Schwarzenegger can’t help but feel that sting of regret.