<P> For the role of Kyle Reese , Orion wanted a star whose popularity was rising in the United States but who also would have foreign appeal . Orion co-founder Mike Medavoy had met Arnold Schwarzenegger and sent his agent the script for The Terminator . Cameron was dubious about casting Schwarzenegger as Reese as he felt he would need someone even bigger to play the Terminator . Sylvester Stallone and Mel Gibson were offered the Terminator role , but both turned it down . The studio suggested O.J. Simpson for the role , but Cameron did not feel that Simpson would be believable as a killer . </P>
who did the studio orion originally want to play the t800 in the terminator
O.J. Simpson