Arnold Schwarzenegger's first TV show could save his action career
Arnold Schwarzenegger hasn't appeared in a movie for several years, but his upcoming Netflix action series Utap could change his career.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is set to host his first TV series with Netflix's Utap, which could save his action career. After becoming governor of California in 2003, Schwarzenegger apparently didn't have much time for acting. Excited among his fans with his return to 2013's action-thriller The Last Stand, his comeback quickly lost momentum. Projects seemed tailor-made for the screen legend, such as Sabotage Bombing, while his collaboration with former rival Sylvester Stallone on Escape Plan had only modest success. Even his return as the T-800 in Terminator Genesis and Dark Fate - his role was supposed to be a surprise - turned out to be disappointing.
Arnie hasn't starred in a movie since the 2019 sequel, but his next big project will be the Netflix exclusive action-comedy series Utap. While the star has made guest appearances on shows like The Streets of San Francisco earlier in his career, Utap will mark his first starring role in a live-action series. Utap's premise is that a veteran CIA agent (Schwarzenegger) learns that his daughter (Top Gun: Maverick's Monica Barbaro) is also an undercover CIA agent. They realized their whole relationship was Lying, and having to get to know each other while working together. While Arnie hasn't been a big hit for years, Utap could be the project to turn that around. It will combine his talents for comedy and action and, in addition to appealing to his fans, could introduce new audiences to Arnold's action films.
Utap Could Reinvent Schwarzenegger's Career
During Arnie's heyday as a film star, an actor of his stature never did television - never. In the 1990s, when he was earning big money for expensive blockbusters like "Total Recall" or "The Last Hero," the difference between a movie actor and a TV actor was clear. This began to slowly evolve in later years when actors like George Clooney jumped from the emergency room to movies like Ocean's Eleven, and now Matthew McConaughey, Julia Roberts or Nicole Stars such as Kidman also often appear in miniseries.
With films like The Last Stand, Schwarzenegger found himself in a strange place. He was once one of the most famous movie stars in the world, but the kind of blockbusters that defined his career are no longer in fashion. Even quoting some of his quotes during a cameo in an Expendables movie elicits groans instead of laughs because they It feels like an embarrassing parody. Utap has the potential to show viewers another side of his character, a character he could develop over eight episodes. It will undoubtedly reprise his most famous roles, but if it can shake off the pastiche and present audiences with a different type of Schwarzenegger character, it could lead to a comeback later in his career.
Utap Sure Sounds Like A True Lies Remake
Utap is not directly related to Arnie's past films, but the setup makes it sound like a True Lies remake. Like the 1994 James Cameron blockbuster, he plays a spy who has to hide his identity from his family -- until his two worlds suddenly collide. It's doubtful that True Lies 2 will come, but Utap leans toward the same premise. Strengthening this connection is the fact that True Lies co-star Tom Arnold will also have a cameo role in Utap. Ultimately, the show's success will depend on Arnie's chemistry with on-screen daughter Monica Barbaro, but hopefully it will open a new chapter in the star's action career.
