Although he initially walked away from the project because of the screenplay he received, the actor later admitted he was frustrated after seeing how the finished film came together. Released in 1996, the Michael Bay-directed thriller starred Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, and Ed Harris, eventually becoming a major box office success.
Why Arnold Schwarzenegger Still Thinks About ‘The Rock’
Schwarzenegger recalled that producer Jerry Bruckheimer first approached him with the opportunity to play FBI chemical weapons specialist Stanley Goodspeed, the character ultimately portrayed by Nicolas Cage. At the time, however, the screenplay failed to inspire confidence. Looking back, he remembered opening the script and wondering, “What is that?” Rather than signing on, he responded, “I can’t commit to that. Why don’t you get your act together and come back with a good script?”
Source: IMDb
The production evolved considerably after that decision. The screenplay underwent additional revisions, including work by Quentin Tarantino, while Michael Bay came aboard to direct. Cage eventually accepted the lead role opposite Sean Connery, with Ed Harris completing the central trio in the action thriller set on Alcatraz.
Once Schwarzenegger finally watched the completed title, his opinion changed dramatically. “I really loved that movie; I thought it turned out fantastic,” he admitted, acknowledging that the project had become something very different from the unfinished version he had originally read.
Schwarzenegger also praised the actor who ultimately took the part. “Nicolas Cage did an extraordinary job,” he said, before adding, “I don’t know if I’d be able to do as good a job as he did, but I was mad that I turned down that role because it was really a great role.” The picture went on to gross more than $335 million worldwide, becoming one of the defining action films of the decade.
