Arnold Schwarzenegger Goes Back to Hollywood in New Western

By Eryn Sun, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Arnold Schwarzenegger is keeping to his promise that he’ll be back, to the movies at least.

His long awaited return to the big screen after his post as California governor was put on the back burner when it was revealed that he had cheated on his wife of 25 years with a household employee by the name of Mildred Patricia Baena.

Baena birthed Schwarzenegger’s son, Joseph, who is now 14 years old. The former governor purportedly had financially supported his other family since the birth of his son. His wife, Maria Shriver, discovered the relationship and confirmed with the housekeeper her suspicions.

The California governor confessed to his wife only after she confronted him about the affair, thus leading to a separation and impending divorce.

Before the scandal was uncovered, Schwarzenegger was already planning his return to Hollywood with several projects, including a possible "Terminator" comeback. But after it became known that he had an affair, he temporarily stopped all of his projects to focus on his personal life.

Now that the scandal has relatively died down since early May, his potential projects are back on the table for discussion.

Deadline reported that the governor’s first motion picture post-scandal would be Korean director Ji-woon Kim’s English debut film, “The Last Stand.” Production is set to begin in September.

The Western is focused on an aging U.S. sheriff who must track down the leader of a deadly drug cartel and prevent them from reaching the Mexican border.

A Lionsgate executive told Deadline, “It’s an old-fashioned Western specifically designed for a 63-year-old broken-down guy with a moral decision whether Arnold decides to stand up for his town. We always needed an iconic figure for it.”

“‘The Last Stand’ would be where someone puts their lives on the line to protect something that’s very important and it will be a bit more optimistic film in that regard,” Kim described to ComingSoon.net.

Though Liam Neeson was previously attached to play the role, it appears as if the governor will take over.

And perhaps picking the perfect film for redemption, Schwarzenegger is hoping to earn some brownie points by playing a hero, however fallen he may be.