Arnold Schwarzenegger Commits to Dramatic Role in Return to Big Screen

Now that Arnold is free of his duties to the state of California and the GOP, he is re-focusing on the movie career that he put on hold to become the Governator. In a somewhat surprising twist, Schwarzenegger's first role in his return to the big screen will be a dramatic one. This is an obvious departure from most of Arnold's most notable work to date. He's primarily been cast as an action hero, with some comedic roles and elements sprinkled among them.

Cry Macho is a film about a horse trainer whose wife and child have died and who is generally down on his luck. He is offered $400,000 to go to Mexico and kidnap the son of his boss from his ex-wife, but once he arrives in Mexico he realizes that the son is unloved and not wanted by the mother. During the return trip to the U.S., while being pursued by Mexican authorities, the two form a father-son bond.

The story and the concept for the film come from a 1975 novel by N. Richard Nash, writer of the Rainmaker. Nash also wrote the screenplay for Cry Macho, which has been controlled by Oscar-winning producer Al Ruddy for several years. Ruddy is best known for his Oscar-winning work on The Godfather and Million Dollar Baby.

"I guarantee that you'll get another look at Arnold Schwarzenegger in this movie," Ruddy said. "Arnold always plays these big muscular guys, but there's a sweetness to Arnold in real life, and we want to bring that sweetness to the screen. Now that Brad's (Lincoln Lawyer director Brad Furman) met with Arnold, he's convinced there's an accessibility and vulnerability there that he wants to bring out."
By Buzzle Staff and Agencies