Though the series FUBAR finished after two seasons, Arnold Schwarzenegger has a new project coming out: The Man with the Bag, where he plays Santa Claus alongside Alan Ritchson. This film feels like the start of a potential franchise, and it marks Schwarzenegger’s first major movie role in seven years – excluding the use of his image in Predator: Killer of Killers. After 55 years as a leading man, Schwarzenegger clearly still enjoys being part of franchise films. This makes us wonder which of his past franchises would be best to revisit. We’ll be taking a look at every franchise he’s been involved in, considering if and which one deserves a continuation.
However, there were a few cases that don’t quite fit the pattern. There were talks of a Twins sequel at one point, but it never materialized, so it remains a standalone film. Also, just because Hercules in New York features a well-known character doesn’t automatically make it part of a franchise. Red Sonja can be considered a spin-off of Conan the Barbarian, even though Conan himself isn’t in it. But let’s consider how great it would be to see Schwarzenegger reprise his roles in these actual franchises.
6) The Terminator
The films The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day are still considered highly influential action movies, and they set the standard for the genre.
As much as I love the first two Terminator films, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines just didn’t hit the same way. Honestly, even back then it felt like the series was running out of steam. And things haven’t gotten much better with the three movies that followed – even the ones with Arnold Schwarzenegger. They’ve really complicated the story and kind of ruined it, if I’m being honest. While Terminator: Dark Fate did a better job of capturing the feel of the originals, it still felt a little unnecessary. I think that should have been Arnold’s last time playing the T-800, and even if they do keep making Terminator movies, it would be the perfect place to leave it.
5) The Expendables
Arnold Schwarzenegger made a brief appearance in the first The Expendables film while still serving as Governor of California. This cameo generated excitement among viewers about the possibility of him playing a larger role in future installments.
Honestly, I really enjoyed seeing Trent ‘Trench’ Mauser finally get some proper screen time in the third act of The Expendables 2 – it was fantastic! He came back for The Expendables 3, which, while not great, was still miles better than the truly awful Expend4bles. Thankfully, he wasn’t involved in that last one. If they somehow decide to make another sequel (which seems pretty doubtful given how the fourth film performed), I think he’s better off staying away.
4) Kindergarten Cop
If you’re looking for a family-friendly action movie, the original Kindergarten Cop is a great pick, especially if you have kids who love action. It’s funny enough for both kids and adults, with exciting action scenes at the beginning and end.
Although many have forgotten, a 2016 sequel did exist, featuring Dolph Lundgren in a new role, making it part of the series. However, there’s still no need to create a sequel revisiting the original story.
3) DC
Let’s be honest, even though it’s become a bit of a guilty pleasure now that time and better Batman films have softened the blow, Batman & Robin is still a pretty flawed movie. It’s only been revisited once – with George Clooney’s appearance in The Flash – and that film wasn’t exactly a success either.
James Gunn’s new DC Universe probably won’t rely heavily on past iterations, which is good news – especially when it comes to characters like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Mr. Freeze. We’re happy to leave that version behind, though we’ll always remember the funny moment at the Oscars when Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito received a stern look from Michael Keaton.
2) Conan the Barbarian
We’ve reached a point where a new Conan the Barbarian movie could work, as long as it feels like a continuation of the original and passes the mantle to a new hero.
However, a new Conan movie would only succeed if it captured the energetic, mature tone of the original, rather than the tamer humor of Conan the Destroyer. Leaving the franchise with Destroyer (or Red Sonja) wasn’t ideal, so a legacy sequel—which is now being considered—could be a fitting tribute and a way to revitalize his early film work.
1) Predator
Dan Trachtenberg has taken the Predator series in some exciting new directions, and fans are hoping he’ll continue to lead future installments. A sequel to Predator: Prey seems like a natural next step, and many would love to see Arnold Schwarzenegger reprise his role as Dutch Schaefer.
Given that Schwarzenegger has been absent from films for a long time, it would be ideal if he voiced a younger version of himself in any future projects. If a sequel to Killer of Killers were made as a live-action film, CGI could potentially be used to make him appear younger, but the results of that technology are often inconsistent. Ultimately, the Predator franchise is the one that would most benefit from having Schwarzenegger return, without question.
If Arnold Schwarzenegger were to reprise a role, which franchise would you choose? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss it with other fans on the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-03-11 23:47