Arnold Schwarzenegger jumps on the TV series bandwagon.
It’s finally official, Arnold Schwarzenegger will have his own TV series, premiering on Thursday, May 25, 2023.
First announced in 2020, Schwarzenegger will star in his first ever TV series. FUBAR is a sequel to Schwarzenegger’s popular 1994 film True Lies.
This will be a new experience for Schwarzenegger, after dedicating his entire life to films, never having any real experience with TV.
Netflix fought off tough competition from Paramount, Amazon and other TV giants, to earn the bragging rights of Arnold’s series.
Eight episodes will make up the first season.
What is the plot of FUBAR?
The series is based on True Lies, the 1994 action/comedy movie in that Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared alongside Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, Bill Paxton, Art Malik, and Tia Carrere. The series is described as a “global spy adventure”.
A father and daughter have both been working as CIA Operatives for years, but each kept their involvement in the CIA hidden from the other, resulting in their entire relationship is a gigantic lie. Upon learning of each other’s involvement in the CIA, the pair are forced to work together as partners, and against the backdrop of explosive action, and espionage, learn who each other really are.
As Schwarzenegger’s character is forced to go back into the field for one last job, the series tackles universal family dynamics set against a global backdrop of spies, action and humor.
Regarding the cast members, the main protagonists are Arnold Schwarzenegger and Monica Barbaro. The pair will portray a father-and-daughter dynamic.
The full list of cast members can be viewed HERE.
Joining the TV series bandwagon
It was a matter of time before Arnold Schwarzenegger tried his luck with a TV series. Legends of the big screen, such as Sylvester Stallone and Kevin Costner, have also have had incredible success with their popular TV series Tulsa King and Yellowstone.
Tulsa King – Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone just finished his first season of Tusla King. Tulsa King stars Stallone (who also executive-produces) as Dwight “the General” Manfredi, a New York City mafia capo who gets released from federal prison after serving a 25-year sentence and is quickly shipped off to explore new illegal business opportunities in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Over the course of Season 1, the charming crook rapidly ascended to a position of power in Tulsa’s disorganized criminal underworld, only to have his new empire put in jeopardy in the final moments of the season finale when he was arrested once again. The show premiered on November 13, 2022.
The second season has just been confirmed, but no news has been confirmed on its release date.
Yellowstone – Kevin Costner
On the other side if the fence, Academy Award winner, Kevin Costner, is having great success starring in the popular TV series Yellowstone.
Yellowstone is a modern-day western series that premiered on June 20, 2018 on Paramount Network. It focuses on the Duttons, a ranching family living in Montana, near Yellowstone National Park. Its prequels, 1883 and 1923 focus on the family’s history.
The Dutton family, led by John Dutton (Kevin Costner), controls the largest contiguous ranch in the United States, under constant attack by those it borders, land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first National Park. It’s a violent world far from media scrutiny, where land grabs make developers billions, and politicians are corrupted by the world’s largest oil and lumber corporations. Where drinking water poisoned by fracking wells and unsolved murders are not news, they are a consequence of living in the new frontier. It is the best and worst of America seen through the eyes of a family that represents both.
It has also been announced that Academy Award winner Robert De Niro is making his debut as a TV series regular. De Niro is set to star in and executive-produce the Netflix limited series Zero Day.
Streaming is the way forward
Arnold Schwarzenegger will be hoping to have the same success as his colleagues in the film industry.
It will be interesting to see if the old Schwarzenegger/Stallone rivalry will rekindle itself on the small screen.
The movie industry has been hit hard with the numerous options of streaming TV and movies. Subscribers prefer to watch a new series and film, from the comfort of their own home, whenever they want.
With streaming services giving more options to the viewer, the movie industry has been suffering. A number of legendary stars are dedicating their time to the small screen, rather than a blockbuster film.
At the age of 75, a lot is on the line for Arnold Schwarzenegger with his new series. If it doesn’t succeed, it will be a big blow to his career.
It remains to be seen if Schwarzenegger will promote his new series at the 2023 Arnold Sports Festival, that is taking place 2-5 March, 2023.
Arnold Schwarzenegger will star as Luke Brunner in FUBAR (Picture: Christos Kalohoridis/Netflix)
The series will also feature Monica Barbaro as Emma Brunner and Jay Baruchel as Carter Perlmutter (Picture: Amanda Matlovich/Netflix)
