Picking right back up from where Terminator 2: Judgement Day left off, James Cameron reunites with Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger for the first time in 28 years.
Nearly three decades have passed since the last action-adventure where Sarah Connor changed the future for the human race by preventing Judgement Day. Now a new and improved Terminator – a REV-9 travels back from the future to hunt and terminate newcomer Natalia Reyes’ character Dani Ramos. While living a simplistic life in Mexico City with her brother Diego, Dani must try to survive at all costs. Luckily she has a little help from an enhanced super-soldier from the future named Grace and a toughened more experienced Sarah Connor. Now where does the T-800 come into play with the three leading ladies? Well you’re gonna have to watch and find out but for now check out our interviews with the cast members below:
The Knockturnal: You play the menacing Terminator in this film? What is the difference between this one and the other ones we’ve seen before?
Gabriel Luna: Well first is there’s the great similarities that they have. I have an endo like the T-800 and I have a liquid metal skin that can change and you know whatever human I touch I can assume their image but then of course I can split and be both of those things at once. Beyond that there is this really great thing Tim enabled me and powered me with the freedom to be as human as I can whenever I have interaction with humans in the film.
The Knockturnal: The physicality of this role looked insane what was the most challenging part of playing this role?
Gabriel Luna: Probably just the diet and not eating the things I wanted to eat. Going to Spain and seeing all the Gelato stands and not being able to eat them except on Saturdays. I’m a big ice cream guy and so is Arnold that’s a secret people don’t know. He loves ice cream. The training was very strenuous but I come from a background of athletics and high school football so I know what it is to work hard. The idea is to train harder than the real thing so that when you get there you’re ready.
The Knockturnal: Assuming you’ve seen the other movies when you were younger how incredible is it to be a part of this now and with the OG’s Linda and Arnold?
Gabriel Luna: Well I remember seeing T2 for the first time as a kid. My mother who was a 15 year old widow when she had me was in her 20’s at the time and she didn’t have a babysitter so she took my brother and I to the theaters because she wanted to see T2. I remember watching and of course Eddie Furlong was my age so he was a character I could identify with and I thought it was cool to have Arnold as my friend and to have an adventure and sure enough here we are now and Arnold Schwarzenegger is literally my friend, it’s wild.
The Knockturnal: Playing alongside him was there any advice that he gave to you? Were you nervous?
Gabriel Luna: No he was very helpful and very available to me. Even when we were doing stunts he was so willing to come practice and work it out with me. He didn’t have to do that he could have just sat in his chair and relaxed but he wanted to get in there. He led by example and told some great stories and I was able to gather what it is that made the role iconic. He’d do everything very smoothly and very efficiently and effortlessly so I guess that was it made everything effortless.
The Knockturnal: Tell us about your character and it’s involvement in this story?
Diego Boneta: My character’s name is Diego Ramos, it’s confusing because my name is also Diego but Diego in Terminator is Dani’s older brother. We’re both from Mexico City and even though I’m her older brother is seems like she’s the one taking care of me. I’m carefree and I live in my own world. It was a very fun character to play because he really doesn’t care about anything he was really just having fun.
The Knockturnal: What were your thoughts on that? Getting the script and realizing your characters name is Diego?
Diego Boneta: It’s never happened to me before and Tim told me and was like you’re actually playing Diego.
The Knockturnal: What do you think about the Latino representation in this film?
Diego Boneta: I think finally there’s a movie that focuses on that and the characters aren’t just the sidekicks or the funny guys they are the leads of this movie. Tim wanted to make it to look and feel as authentic as possible because we didn’t shoot it in Mexico. We shot it in Madrid and Budapest and I was the only Mexican in the whole crew so the second I landed he was like okay Diego you need to make sure you’re okay with what we’re doing for Mexico City. It was cool to see Tim worried about that. If you watch movies from the 90’s all you see is a donkey and a sombrero and some tacos and that’s Mexico. I think we’re in a different time and that’s not all Mexico is although the food is the best.
The Knockturnal: When you were younger I’m sure you watched the films and being a part of this now how does that make you feel?
Diego Boneta: It’s very humbling it’s an honor to have worked on this movie knowing what this means. It’s the first movie with James Cameron and Linda since T2. It’s not Terminator 17 it’s T3 really and for big Terminator fans it’s a really different kind of movie because it’s the OG team and ingredients that made the two movies and the franchise what it is. Being a part of that is amazing and learning from Tim and these amazing actors and being involved in this movie really means a lot to me.
Terminator: Dark Fate hits theaters everywhere Nov. 1! Check out the trailer below:
