When Arnold Schwarzenegger said he’d be back, he meant it. Amidst his highly publicized sex scandal and subsequent split from Maria Shriver, his wife of 25 years, Schwarzenegger has decided to return to the big screen.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the 63-year-old former governor is set to star in the upcoming Western flick, “The Last Stand.” Schwarzenegger was attached to the film a few months ago, but was rumored to have dropped out as a result of his recent personal scandal. The actor’s rep, however, confirmed a deal had been reached and Schwarzenegger would keep his starring role.
The film, which begins production in September, will be directed by acclaimed Korean filmmaker Ji-woon Kim. The plot focuses on a veteran sheriff’s mission to prevent a violent Mexican drug cartel from reaching the U.S. border.
According to a Lionsgate executive, the film is “an old-fashioned Western specifically designed for a 63 year-old broken-down guy with a moral decision. We always needed an iconic figure for it.”
“The Last Stand” will be Schwarzenegger’s first major role since “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” in 2003.