When it comes to 1980s action movies, few names are more iconic than Arnold Schwarzenegger, a star whose work has endured in popular culture with remakes of his films currently in the works. While fans can look forward to two upcoming Schwarzenegger remakes in 2025, earlier movies like Conan the Barbarian, Total Recall, and, of course,, The Terminator have already been remade in recent times. As a true legend of the action genre, it makes sense that filmmakers opt to update Schwarzenegger classics for modern viewers.
While it can be hard for these remakes to recapture the magic of the original releases, it’s always exciting to see what a modern take on the best Schwarzenegger action movies will look like. Although some of these remakes lack the cheesy 1980s one-liners, dated special effects, or over-the-top macho energy that made the originals feel so unique, Schwarzenegger was involved in so many great action, comedy, and sci-fi releases that it feels like a no-brainer to continually revive these franchises. With two upcoming remakes already slated for 2025, there’s one iconic 1985 movie I hope gets the reboot treatment next.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s The Running Man & Red Sonja Are Both Getting Remakes In 2025
Directors Edgar Wright And M. J. Bᴀssett Are helming Schwarzenegger Remakes
In terms of modern remakes, 2025 looks like a great time to be a Schwarzenegger fan, as Edgar Wright and M. J. Bᴀssett are set to remake The Running Man and Red Sonja, respectively. The Running Man was based on a Stephen King novel under the pseudonym Richard Bachman and saw Schwarzenegger playing Ben Richards, a man caught up in a brutal reality TV show where he must outrun hordes of professional killers. Red Sonja was an epic swords-and-sorcery fantasy starring Brigitte Nielsen as its тιтle hero that took place in the same Hyborian Age as Conan the Barbarian.
These films each have devoted fan bases who will be eagerly anticipating how their source material is updated for contemporary times. With Wright’s track record making modern classics like Shaun of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and Baby Driver, it’s clear he’s got the credentials needed to pull off such a highly anticipated release starring Glen Powell in Schwarzenegger’s role. Bᴀssett, on the other hand, has had some disappointing releases, with Silent Hill: Revelation and Endangered Species being panned by critics, so it will be interesting to see how she manages this upcoming remake starring Matilda Lutz.
The 1980s Schwarzenegger Action Movie I Really Want To See Remade Is Commando
A Commando Remake Has So Much Potential
While it may look like almost every major Schwarzenegger movie has been the subject of sequels, remakes, or reboots, there’s one film that’s been sadly left behind. Commando was one of Schwarzenegger’s most action-packed releases and told the simple story of the former United States Army Special Forces Colonel John Matrix on a mission to rescue his kidnapped daughter. With high emotional stakes, incredibly witty one-liners, and an almost invincible hero at the center of its story, the influence of Commando can be felt in everything from John Wick to the metahumor of ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool.
As a gloriously over-the-top example of the best 1980s action movies have to offer, a modern remake of Commando with updated geopolitics and contemporary stunt choreography would be incredible. It’s clear that Commando laid the foundations for many of the tenets of today’s most popular action movies, and it’s surprising that the franchise potential of this cult favorite release has never been fully exploited.
Why Commando Never Had A Sequel
Repeated Sequel And Reboot Plans Never Got Off The Ground
Although other Schwarzenegger hits of the 1980s, like The Terminator or Predator, were given the sequel treatment, a Commando follow-up never quite got off the ground. Plenty of subsequent films, like Strike Commando, Commando Squad, and When Eagles Strike, tried to emulate the success of the original Schwarzenegger movie, but these were not true sequels and were just blatant ripoffs. Screenwriter Steven de Souza actually wrote a script for Commando 2 in 1987 (via Den of Geek), but Schwarzenegger rejected it.
A long-standing rumor claims the script for Commando was eventually turned into Die Hard, although screenwriter Steven de Souza has debunked this.
Plans to revive Commando were announced (via ᴅᴇᴀᴅline) in 2010, with David Ayer reportedly onboard to write and direct a remake; however, nothing ever came of this announcement. In 2023, rumors of a legacy sequel тιтled Commando: Retribution with Schwarzenegger returning were reported on (via GFR), but again, nothing came of this. While Commando remains one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s best action movies, Colonel John Matrix just never gained the same kind of cultural cachet as Conan the Barbarian, T-800, or Dutch Schafer, and it stands as a lone feature film that’s been ripe for a follow-up for the past four decades.
Source: Den of Geek, ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, GFR
