Arnold Schwarzenegger Puts All Movie Projects on Hold

What a difference an illegitimate baby makes. Last month we were speculating which movie project would mark the triumphant return of former governor of CaliforniaArnold Schwarzeneggerto the silver screen.

However, now that the secret is out that Schwarzenegger had a love child with a former housekeeper (Mildred‘Patty’ Baena), the 63-year-old actor is reconsidering his high-profile Hollywood comeback he’s been promising sinceJanuary.

He is putting his acting career“on hold” while he focuses on his personal life, according to a statement released by his talent representation.“At the request of Arnold Schwarzenegger we asked Creative Artists Agency to inform all his motion picture projects currently underway or being negotiated to stop planning until further notice,” said Patrick Knapp, entertainment counsel to Schwarzenegger (viaLA Times).“Governor Schwarzenegger is focusing on personal matters and is not willing to commit to any production schedules or timelines. This includesCry Macho, The Terminator franchise and other projects under consideration. We will resume discussions when Governor Schwarzenegger decides.”

As of late April, Schwarzenegger was securinga $10-12 million deal(plus 25% of first dollar gross) to star inCry Machoas his first live-action feature since retiring to pursue his political career. The film was intended to challenge and showcase Schwarzenegger’s acting chops as a horse trainer who wins the Kentucky Derby but slips into an alcoholic depression after the death of his wife and child. In exchange for some much-needed cash, his character agrees to kidnap the 11-year-old son of a hedge fund manager in Mexico.Machowas supposed to start shooting near the end of August.

Schwarzenegger was also attached a rights package that was shopped around in April for Terminator 5 with Justin Lin (Fast Five) on board to direct. After a heated bidding war, Megan Ellison’s Annapurna Pictures won the battle less than a week ago and just three days before Schwarzenegger publicly admitted to the scandalous extra-marital affair. That potential project is also on hold, and I can’t imagine Ellison is happy about it after spending $29.5 million to purchase the rights.

Plus the actor already secured a deal for“The Governator,” a cartoon series for kids that re-imagines Schwarzenegger as a well-equipped hero who fights crime with his own brand of vigilante justice. No word on how this hiatus will affect that sure-fire Emmy contender.

What I don’t understand is the timing. If Schwarzenegger knew he was going to come clean to his wife, Maria Shriver, upon leaving the governor’s office, why immediately start booking family cartoons and rifling through multi-million dollar offers? Why not deliver the hard news, make the official apology, then take a few months of vacation from the public eye while enjoying some sexagenarian bachelorhood?

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