The shapeshifting T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day remains one of the most chilling villains. If anything, Robert Patrick’s cold and emotionless portrayal turned the liquid-metal assassin into a nightmare. But Patrick was not the first choice to play the iconic villain in James Cameron’s movie. 

'Rebel Yell' star Billy Idol was initially considered for the role, but an accident changed his fate and opened the door for Patrick. And he became one of the most iconic Terminators. Even years later, the actor finds the entire experience of starring as Terminator unbelievable.

Robert Patrick recently sat down with People and opened up about auditioning for a role in James Cameron’s movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day. However, it was only later, when the director finally handed him the script, that Patrick realized he was going to play the Terminator. Even all these years later, Patrick still feels the same thrill about the role as he did when he first found out he had landed it.

“(It was a) a thrill of a lifetime” he said. “I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it, to be honest with you, even though I did it. I don’t know how everything lined up.”

During the interview, Patrick further revealed that once James Cameron learned that Billy Idol, who was initially supposed to play the role, could no longer take on the part, the director began searching for a new face. Cameron wanted an actor that the audience could watch without any preconceived notions about the character. Patrick was ultimately chosen to play T-1000.

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Even Billy Idol, who was initially supposed to play the role, also shares the same sentiment.

Billy Idol, best known for 'Eyes Without a Face' and 'Dancing with Myself,' was originally supposed to suit up as the Terminator in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Although he missed out on the opportunity, Idol has expressed his appreciation for what Robert Patrick ultimately brought to the role. He acknowledged that Patrick played T-1000 with such a cold, detached demeanor that he might not have been able to bring the same quality to the character. 

“He brought a cold veneer that was really robotic. So the right man got the job!” Idol recalled to Q Online in December 2023.

It was Idol’s 1990 motorcycle accident and the resulting injuries that forced him to step away from the role. The film required the Terminator to run in several scenes, and Idol’s injuries meant he was unable to perform the physically demanding sequences. However, years later, the singer does not appear to hold any bitterness over missing out on the part. Instead, he has praised Patrick for taking on the role and turning the T-1000 into an unforgettable villain. His action can be witnessed again with the movie arriving in theaters on August 28, 2026 for a rerelease to celebrate its 35th anniversary.

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