McG Tells TheArnoldFans About Hamilton and Kickinger!
TAFs Attends LA T4 Roadshow: PART ONE!

Reported By: Randy Jennings
Thursday, January 15, 2009

Just a couple of days ago, Ryan was in New York covering the East Coast "Terminator Salvation" roadshow. Tonight, on the West Coast in Los Angeles, it was my turn to attend the 20 minutes of screened press footage followed by a McG Q & A. Not only was it some fantastic footage indeed but TheArnoldFans.com managed to gain some more exclusives!

In the days to come, you can expect a lot more news from us here at TAFs from our adventures during this "Terminator Salvation" action-packed footage, but for now, let me just give you a couple of exclusives!

During the reception and over drinks, I asked McG about Roland Kickinger, the person playing Arnold's body in the film. In a couple of quick shots in the new footage, we see Roland's nude body from a side view laying on a Skynet construction table. Smoke covers his face but we can imagine it clearing to reveal Arnold's CG replacement head.

After I introduced myself to McG, I asked if we would be hearing Roland speak at all in the film or would his voice be dubbed by anyone (like, oh, I don't know...ARNOLD maybe). McG, knowing I was from TheArnoldFans said he'd love to tell especially me more and then shot me that smirk (hinting that all Arnold and Terminator fans will be very happy come May 2009).

However McG did confirm that Roland is only a 'shape' to play the T-800 Arnold model.

"The truth simply is, there's an archetype shape to a T-800 and not wanting to say 'Hey Christian, Imagine there is a Terminator there', we need body TYPES to suggest. SO, with that, Roland is a good body type(of Arnold T-800) But I give you this,...Roland Kickinger, the individual, is indeed NOT in the movie."

During the presentation, McG told the group of press that he was just about ready to meet up with Arnold and show him the film.

"We have to go show this movie to the Governor of California shortly and see to WHAT DEGREE he wants to be a part of it."

Based on this quote, I'd say after McG shows Arnold what they have already done with his previous face scans, Arnold may be convinced to give EVEN MORE dialogue and MORE studio time. I mean, why wouldn't Arnold want to be involved more with one of the highest grossing films of 2009?

McG continued about the hopeful Arnold special effects and who's in charge of Arnold at ILM.

"That's one of the fine tricks we have up our sleeve. Without giving away too much, let's just say it's a it's a big challenge regarding our visual effects.
What, don't talk about it?" (McG yells to a producer who doesn't want him to reveal too much). "We hired a guy named Charlie Gibson, he just won 2 Academy Awards and he's there cooking it up with ILM for things that ARE NOT what you'd expect. That's why I'm comfortable talking in front of producers about these issues."

Now let's get to another big exclusive! TheArnoldFans originally broke the scoop last July when we were told Linda Hamilton's picture would be used in "Salvation" as long as they could obtain her consent, so it was nice seeing this polaroid for ourselves up on the screen. But something was not right with it; the Polaroid's edges were too burnt and didn't match the photo's edges that Reese held in T1. So I questioned McG about this and he told me that shot wasn't the final. He then enlightened me to say he got the original photo straight from James Cameron. Cameron must be having more and more faith in this film if he's loaning out one of his most cherished artifacts.

"I like the idea of Sarah Connor, by virtue of the tapes she had left behind, brings us into the film and talks about dying for your kid.."

McG and Dan Lin, executive producer, also told TheArnoldFans at the reception that Linda Hamilton was finally asked for her permission to use her photo. She had no problem with it. Lin also told me that Hamilton has also been informed of the narration that they want her to do. She sounds so far happy about contributing but the writers are still coming up with her new taped dialogue.

Inside of the screening room, McG wanted to know our thoughts on if we wanted Linda Hamilton back or not.

"Who wants to hear Linda Hamilton via the tapes, that we all know she left to educate her son on what he must do to survive and articulate the rules of the movie," asked McG.

We all raised our hands and cheered in full support!

More soon, or i'll be a monkey's Uncle Bob!

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Randy Jennings