"The 1000 series had to be a Porsche": 5 surprising facts about Robert Patrick's T1000 from Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a film that is remembered for its iconic dialogues, special effects, action sequences, and strong performances. James Cameron produced and directed the film; he also wrote the script with William Wisher.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day stars Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Robert Patrick in the lead roles, and it was released on July 3, 1991, by Tri-Star Pictures. Upon its release, the film met with positive reviews and ended up grossing $519 million against a $100 million (approx.) budget. One of the key highlights of the film is the character of T1000 played by Patrick. Here are some facts about it.

5 facts about T-1000 from Terminator 2: Judgment Day

(1) James Cameron compared T-1000 to Porsche

For Terminator 2: Judgment Day, James Cameron was specific about casting the actor for the antagonist T-1000, who is a liquid metal guy sent from the future to eliminate John Connor. The director wanted a contrast between him and the T-800 (played by Schwarzenegger). Cameron said,

"If the [T-800] series is a kind of human Panzer tank, then the [T-1000] series had to be a Porsche".

This was Cameron's way of explaining how different these two terminators were from each other. While one was powerful but dated, the other one was flexible and could change its shape.

(2) Robert Patrick underwent rigorous training

The character of T-1000, in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, was a liquid metal entity that wouldn't stop until it achieved its mission. To prepare for the role, Robert Patrick underwent intensive running training. This was needed as he had to run fast without showing any sign of fatigue. The actor managed to breathe with his nose during those runs to not look tired or affected.

(3) Robert Patrick outran a dirt bike

In one scene of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Robert Patrick's T-1000 had to chase John Connor when the latter was on a dirt bike. Since Patrick was fast, he was able to outrun the bike in the initial takes. This showcases the actor's commitment to the role and the hard work he was willing to put in to make the character authentic and threatening.

(4) T-1000 and Kyle Reese's connection

There was a time when James Cameron was considering casting Michael Biehn, who played Kyle Reese in the first Terminator. Unlike the first installment, where Biehn was the protector, Cameron was playing with the idea of having Biehn play the antagonist in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. But the makers realized that having the protector play the terminator and Schwarzenegger as the hero would end up confusing the audience.

(5) Robert Patrick could fire shots without blinking

A still from T2 Judgment Day | Image via Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers

Another aspect of Robert Patrick's training for Terminator 2: Judgment Day required him not to blink while shooting with a pistol. To do this convincingly on screen as the shape shifter, Patrick had to undergo weapons training to achieve that. He trained under an Israeli weapon expert named Uzi. As per What Culture, the actor said:

"I trained four times a day and physically got myself into it. I did it like a sprinter would: I locked eyes on a target and focused so there was no wasted energy."

All these facts establish how hard Patrick worked on his craft to play T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The result was a terrifying villain that people have enjoyed watching for many years. In 2024, the franchise got an anime spin with Terminator Zero.