How Gabriel Luna Prepared to Fight Arnold Schwarzenegger in the New Terminator

He remembered watching Arnold as a kidon a TV VCR that had been wheeled into his Texas schools gym class. Arnold had made a video to promote George H.W. Bushs Presidential Fitness Test. Luna still has the image in his head of Arnold pumping out pull ups. At the time, Luna could do only three.

Since then, Luna had fallen into some poor fitness habits. He had been drinking whiskey and smoking cigarettes and doing all kinds of stuff he didnt need to be doing. I knew Id eventually have to stand in front [Arnold], Luna told Mens Health in our October cover story . My motivation was: I want him to see me and see a formidable foe. I dont want him to see me and think, I could squash this guy with my hands.

Luna isnt small. At 61, hes an inch taller than Robert Patrick who played Schwarzeneggers ice-eyed foe in Terminator 2: Judgement Day. But in the new Terminator, Luna will play the next generation: Terminator Rev-9. He needed to convince audiences that not only could he throw down with perhaps the most legendary character in all of action cinema, but that he could do so while appearing technologically new.

View this post on Instagram Up bright and early for a Pre-Panel Pump. Lets go @comic_con! @terminator #terminatordarkfate #hallH #sdcc2019 #stayreadysoyoudonthavetogetready A post shared by Gabriel Luna (@iamgabrielluna) on Jul 18, 2019 at 7:38am PDT

Director Tim Miller thought Luna was perfect for that role. With the advances of AI, it doesnt make any sense for this terminator not to be more human than human, he told Mens Health. Which is why I picked Gabebecause he has this wonderful facility. Hell be charming one moment and then go dead in the eyes and be the most crazy motherfuckin serial-killer-looking dude ever.

Luna was born Austin in 1982, when a 35-year-old Arnold Schwarzenegger released Conan the Barbarian. (Luna was 35 during the filming of the new Terminator.) Before Terminator, Luna appeared in True Detective and ABCs Wicked City, though probably his best-known role remains Ghost Rider in Marvels Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The character will get his own series on Hulu in 2020.

After weeks of training, Luna finally met the man himself, The Terminator. When asked about the experience, Luna said he had been overwhelmed, given Schwarzeneggers Hollywood history. But he doesnt place himself on a pedestal that way, Luna said. He always makes sure to look at people eye-to-eye. And in doing so, I think you disarm the craziness?

Still, when Arnold gets into character and stares you downthats an eye-to-eye were sure few actors are able to match. We cant wait to see how Luna handles it.