Arnold Schwarzenegger Milking Governator Persona for Fourth Career as Cartoon Superhero

governator170.jpgWho wants to be saved by one-time bodybuilding champ, action star, and former state governor Arnold Schwarzenegger? (Not the people of California, amirite?) EW breaks the news that Ahnold is jumping back into showbiz with the help of Stan Lee, who will help him launch a TV cartoon and comic book called The Governator. Yes, seriously. But wait, there's more!

The brilliant idea for Schwarzenegger's post-politics rebirth will combine elements of his actual real life with comic book fantasy, envisioning him as an animated version of himself. In this bizarro alternate cartoon world, Schwarzenegger leaves the office of governor of California to become a super-suited crime fighter who battles -- wait for it -- an evil syndicate nicknamed G.I.R.L.I.E. Men. Also: Arnold will have a 13-year-old computer whiz sidekick (those Twitter updates aren't gonna post themselves) and will be able to fly. Because of course.

"We're using his wife [Maria Shriver]," Lee told EW. "We're using his kids. We're using the fact that he used to be governor. Only after he leaves the governor's office, Arnold decides to become a crime fighter and builds a secret high-tech crime-fighting center under his house in Brentwood."

This kind of blending of real and fantasy life has been attempted before, perhaps most memorably by action star Jackie Chan, who voiced a fictional version of himself on Jackie Chan Adventures for five seasons. The New Kids on the Block also partially participated in their own cartoon show for a hot second in the early '90s. But neither Chan nor NKOTB took the self-referential celebrity worship quite as far as Schwarzenegger promises to with this Governator character, set to debut next year. Coincidentally, 2012 is the prophesied end of the world, so maybe this is the next sign of the impending apocalypse.

· Arnold Schwarzenegger is back as 'The Governator' [EW PopWatch]



Comments

  • HwoodHills says:

    Finally! A former politician who cares enough about the previous office held not to demean it in any way!

  • The Winchester says:

    I keep expecting the "April Fools" but then remember that's not for another two days.
    And then I read the Beiber thing.
    And then I cry the tears outta my face.

  • Christopher Rosen says:

    "It's not a rumor" is the best department we've ever had at Movieline. Congrats, Jen! Internet won.

  • Jen Yamato says:

    Thank you, thank you! (Takes a bow) Ah, it's the little things that make life worth living, y'know?

  • blizzard bound says:

    I'm surprised Maria would go for that. For herself, and the family.

  • P.W. says:

    Actually Jackie Chan did not voice his character in Jackie Chan Adventures. He voiced the 'special affects' and did the intro and the kids questions at the end. However the speaking voice was not Jackie Chan himself.

  • This is going to be a rocking hit comic book.. Kids would love to read it and Arnold is a great guy.. He rocks.

  • I think this kind of idea might have worked two decades ago during the comic boom. But over the past decade, interest in comic books have declined significantly with the rise of the internet and online gaming. But, hey you never know, this is Arnold we're talking about. Could be a surprise hit.