Arnold Schwarzenegger’s $160M Box Office Disaster for Which He Was Paid $25 Million Left Him Mentally Exhausted in 1997: “One by One, All Your Senses Are Shut Off”

Arnold Schwarzenegger has achieved success in multiple fields, from bodybuilding to politics. It is as if challenges are the driving force behind the Austrian oak. The aesthetic hero always pushed himself to achieve perfection, working hard on his shortcomings. be it his accent or acting classes, which is why the Terminator reached the pinnacle in the movie world, too. However, beyond all the glitz and glamour of Tinseltown lie hard work and uncomfortable situations.

In Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story, the legendary artist, spoke about his experiences working in Hollywood. Playing the iconic role of Mr. Freeze in “Batman and Robin” came at a price. It even made the villainous superhero gasp for air.

Arnold Schwarzenegger struggled to breathe while masking up for Mr. Freeze

The Fubar actor entered the movie business in the 1980s. Moreover, he collaborated with brilliant directors, producers, and special effects artists like Stan Winston. Remembering one such incident, Arnie spoke about his brush with claustrophobia. “This was a much bigger version of the claustrophobia I fought when I was having face and body masks made to play the Terminator or Mr. Freeze in Batman and Robin. For me, Stan Winston’s special-effects studio was torture,” recalled the actor.

Furthermore, Mr. Olympia went into vivid detail about the constricting challenge. “So they start wrapping you with strips of fabric dipped in cement. Soon your eyes are covered, and you can’t see anything. Then your ears are closed, and you can no longer hear. One by one, all your senses are shut off. Now your mouth is sealed, so you can no longer talk. Finally, they cover your nose, except for two little straws poking out of your nostrils to let you breathe,” stressed Arnie. All this hoopla caused mental tiredness to the actor, but he fought through. 

Read More: “Don’t Want to Go Backwards”: Afraid Arnold Schwarzenegger Almost Made a Career Suicide by Nearly Refusing $1.4 Billion Franchise for Obvious Reasons in 1984

Thus, one by one, the sensory organs get hidden under the shroud of the roles. However, Mr. Freeze became iconic for representing a cryogenic expert who wears a suit to survive the extreme temperatures. Moreover, the costume displayed intricate lighting and a refrigeration system. It became one of the most technically advanced visual displays. Although the $160 million-budget movie garnered mixed reviews, the Pumping Iron hero’s role became popular. Furthermore, he received more payment than the actor playing the lead in the fourth installment of the 1997 film.

George Clooney took the fall for the dismal performance of Batman and Robin

According to George Clooney in a podcast by The Hollywood Reporter, Arnold Schwarzenegger made a lot of money. He said, “Schwarzenegger was paid, I think, $25 million for that, which was like 20 times more than I was paid for it, and, you know, we never even worked together! We worked together one day. But I took all the heat. 

Additionally, Batman understood the importance of work ethic and the responsibility of the lead. In contrast, Mr. Freeze turned out to be another feather in the cap of the bodybuilding behemoth. Moreover, Arnie became a bankable actor. To sum up, all the efforts the seven-time Olympia champion had put in bore to fruition. After all, Schwarzenegger had the Midas touch in action movies. Have you watched “Batman and Robin?” Let us know in the comments.

Watch This Story: Arnold Schwarzenegger vs. Sylvester Stallone Height Comparison