Exclusive: "True Lies" Heads to TV with Len Wiseman to Direct

2017 is going to be a very busy year for Arnold fans with many theatrical releases starring our favorite action hero.  In the early first quarter we’ll get “Aftermath” (earlier titled 478), then comes “Terminator 2 in 3-D” followed by “Why We’re Killing Gunther” in the summer and “Forbidden Empire 2” (also known as VIY 2) in the fall. But even though Arnold will be kicking lots of ass on the big screen, he also aims to pump up the scrawny screen. 

While we all know of Schwarzenegger’s “Celebrity Apprentice” gig starts on January 2nd, Arnold plans to delve even further into TV with “PUMP”, a series based in the ‘70s on bodybuilding in Venice Beach, and other surprise shows. Schwarzenegger says TV is on an even playing field these days with film. According to Adweek's profile on Arnold, True Lies, based on his 1994 hit film, could be resurrected!

TheArnoldFans contacted Tom Arnold to get a statement on the True Lies TV series and he tells us it “would be cool” adding that he talked to the sought out director of the potential upcoming series at a Jimmy Kimmel Emmy party. "Director is Len Wiseman,” Tom announces to TheArnoldFans.

Len Wiseman’s directorial filmography of successful films includes the “Underworld” films, 2007’s "Die Hard 4" (one of the best sequels in this Bruce Willis franchise) and TV pilots for Hawaii Five-O, Lucifer, and Sleepy Hollow.

"Who knows,” Tom concludes as he excused himself. “Have to change a diaper (not Arnold's although I will pitch that for the pilot).” 

In 2010, when the True Lies TV series was in talks with ABC, James Cameron told me that he will not be writing the show but will be putting his stamp of approval on the series.

"Well, I'm not developing it directly,” Cameron begins. "I'm just putting my name on it so to speak.” 

In 2011, I informed Eliza Dushku about the earlier True Lies TV series in development.

"Really,” Dushku questioned excitedly.  "I would definitely be interested. You tell James Cameron's people to call me. Yeeah.”

We really need the True Lies daughter, Dana, played by Dushku to be heavily involved! Jamie Lee Curtis, who plays Mrs. Tasker in True Lies, told Access Hollywood Live how the story should continue.

"I think the only way to do it would be if Eliza Dushku, who played our daughter, was now the spy and we were,” begins Curtis.  “Like the Judi Dench character in the Bond movies, M. If Arnold and I were sort of the old people sitting at the desk and then maybe right at the end when she gets caught, we have to sort of do it again.”

Arnold is so right on the money about television being the equal to film these days. Dramas like "The Walking Dead" and "Game of Thrones" are better than 98% of films being released so given the right network and talent involved, we would certainly welcome Arnold’s old films getting a primetime weekly continuation. Would a network like HBO, Cinemax, FX or AMC  be the best solution to continue The Legend of Conan, Terminator Genisys or The Running Man? I strongly believe so.

Arnold, after conquering the big screen, is excited to see where an unfamiliar medium of television may also take him.

"It has to sound appealing to me, it has to be challenging, it has to be something I can get consumed in. It's fun to climb the mountain rather than sit at the top.” – Schwarzenegger

Perhaps the True Lies TV series will also help launch the long-overdue True Lies Blu-ray release. 

“We all shot a documentary for it and I would look awesome in Blu,” Tom Arnold recently told TheArnoldFans.