Filmmaker Peter Murphy recently shared a sculpture on Instagram depicting what actor Lance Henriksen might have looked like as the Terminator in the iconic ’80s movie “The Terminator.” James Cameron, the film’s director, initially envisioned Henriksen for the role before Arnold Schwarzenegger ultimately took on the part.
The sculpture features Henriksen holding a gun and wearing a black leather jacket, reminiscent of Schwarzenegger’s appearance in the film. Half of Henriksen’s face is peeled back, revealing a metal skeleton underneath. Murphy explained the creative process behind the project, describing how he sculpted Henriksen, created a mold, cast a silicone copy, and then added the T-800-style endoskull to match the first film’s accuracy.
In his Instagram post, Murphy expressed admiration for Cameron’s original vision of Henriksen playing the Terminator and shared his sculpting project as a way to bring that concept to life. The sculpture provides a unique perspective on what the Terminator might have looked like with Henriksen in the role.
While the concept is intriguing, the post acknowledges that Schwarzenegger’s casting ultimately contributed to the success and iconic status of “The Terminator.” The film is widely recognized and quoted, with Schwarzenegger’s performance as the assassin robot playing a significant role in its cultural impact.
Interestingly, Henriksen and Cameron did collaborate later on the 1986 action movie “Aliens,” where Henriksen portrayed the character Bishop. Despite the initial consideration for Henriksen as the Terminator, the casting choices ultimately worked out for the best, contributing to the success of both “The Terminator” and “Aliens.”
