Arnold Schwarzenegger and The Rock’s Hidden Movie Scene That Changed Action History

The Rundown, one of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s top action films, even boasts a guest appearance from another renowned action film star. This was the initial movie that Johnson took on following his departure from professional wrestling. Directed by Pete Berg, it showcases Johnson as a bounty hunter venturing to Brazil in search of an elusive treasure seeker (portrayed by Seann William Scott). Despite not performing well at the box office, the film garnered positive reviews, praising Johnson’s leading role and establishing him as a promising new action movie star.

The success of The Rundown opened doors for Johnson to appear in several action movie blockbusters such as San Andreas, Rampage, and the Fast and Furious series, which catapulted him into one of Hollywood’s most prominent action stars. Interestingly, despite The Rundown not being a massive box office success, it subtly foreshadowed Johnson’s impending career trajectory, thanks to a seasoned Hollywood legend.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Has A Small Cameo In The Rundown

Schwarzenegger Appears For A Matter Of Seconds

In the film “The Rundown“, Arnold Schwarzenegger makes a fleeting appearance that some viewers might have overlooked. Early in the movie, Dwayne Johnson’s character, Beck, goes into a club to track down someone. Just as he enters, Arnold Schwarzenegger exits the club and tells Beck: “Enjoy yourself.

The audience, along with Beck, exhibited surprise upon the sudden emergence of Schwarzenegger. As the man strolled by, Beck even did a double-take. The unforeseen nature of this cameo was unplanned; Schwarzenegger just so happened to be close to the set and decided to pay Johnson a visit (as reported by movieweb.com)). Director Peter Berg then approached Schwarzenegger, asking if he’d make an appearance in the film. Schwarzenegger agreed on the condition that it occurred right away.

The Cameo Was Meant Past The Action Star Torch To Dwayne Johnson

Schwarzenegger & Johnson Saw Their Careers Briefly Overlapping

In the film “The Rundown,” though Arnold Schwarzenegger’s role may not be extensive or prominent, it represents a significant milestone in the action movie genre. The encounter between Schwarzenegger and Johnson in this movie was particularly noteworthy for both actors. At that time, Schwarzenegger had already established himself as a major Hollywood star through blockbusters like “Terminator,” “Eraser,” “True Lies,” “Predator,” and “Commando.” However, by the release of “The Rundown” in 2003, Schwarzenegger was gearing up for a new phase in his career, as he was preparing to venture into politics.

2003 marked the year I, Arnold Schwarzenegger, transitioned from Hollywood’s silver screen and stepped into the role of California’s Governor. Concurrently, Dwayne Johnson was just starting his acting journey in the early 2000s, eventually reaching levels that mirrored my success in the action genre. The moment I said to him, “have fun,” was perceived as a symbolic “passing of the torch” as I relinquished my position as an action movie star, paving the way for a new generation of action heroes to emerge and carry on the legacy.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Continued To Make Action Movies After The Rundown

Schwarzenegger Continues To Star In Action Movies

In his role as California’s Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger mostly kept his distance from film productions, appearing only occasionally in cameos such as “Arnold the World in 80 Days” and the initial installment of the “Expendables” series. After concluding his political career in 2011, Arnold returned to acting in films once more.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Action Movies Since 2011
Movie Role
The Expendables 2 (2012) Trent “Trench” Mauser
The Last Stand (2013) Sheriff Ray Owens
Escape Plan (2013) Emil Rottmayer
Sabotage (2014) Agent John “Breacher” Wharton
The Expendables 3 (2014) Trent “Trench” Mauser
Terminator Genisys (2015) T-800
Killing Gunther (2017) Robert “Gunther” Bendik
Viy 2: Journey to China (2019) Captain James Hook
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) T-800

In his comeback to acting, Arnold Schwarzenegger played the lead in the neo-Western action film “The Last Stand.” Although this film wasn’t a blockbuster hit, critics acknowledged that Schwarzenegger retained his charm as an action hero. Besides venturing into more serious roles such as “Maggie” and “Aftermath,” he continued to be associated with the action genre through films like “Escape Plan,” “Sabotage,” and two new “Terminator” sequels. Despite not dethroning Dwayne Johnson as the top action movie star, starting with “The Rundown,” Schwarzenegger demonstrated he could still hold his own against the newer generation.

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2025-06-05 19:49