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‘The spiritual successor’: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s new Netflix show ‘FUBAR’ sparks ‘True Lies’ comparison

Arnold Schwarzenegger played the role of secret agent in 1994 action-comedy film 'True Lies' while 'FUBAR' casts him as a CIA operative

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s new Netflix show ‘FUBAR’ opened to rave reviews as it premiered on the platform on Thursday, May 25, 2023. While fans are hailing Schwarzenegger for his TV debut and potential action-comedy comeback, many are also comparing the new show to the action star’s 1994 blockbuster film ‘True Lies.’

‘FUBAR’ has been produced by Skydance Television and Blackjack Films and created by Nick Santora for Netflix. It marks Schwarzenegger’s first leading role in a scripted live-action television series. Meanwhile, ‘True Lies’ was based on the 1991 French comedy film ‘La Totale!’ and written and directed by James Cameron as Lightstorm Entertainment’s first project distributed under Cameron's multimillion-dollar production deal with 20th Century Fox. It was also the first film to cost $100 million to make.

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What are the similarities between ‘FUBAR’ and ‘True Lies?’

While ‘FUBAR’ is an eight-episode TV series that premiered on Netflix, ‘True Lies’ was a commercial film released in theatres across the globe. However, the biggest similarity between the two projects is that both the film and the TV series features Schwarzenegger in a leading role and falls under the genre of action-comedy. Both projects also revolve around an identical theme. In ‘FUBAR,’ Schwarzenegger plays the role of CIA operative Luke Brunner, whose daughter Emma (Monica Barbaro), also serves as a CIA operative. However, the father-daughter duo have spent years lying to each other to keep their respective identities as CIA operatives hidden from one another.

The series unpacks some major action as the duo eventually discover each other’s truth and come together to work as partners while realizing they have loads to learn about one another. Similarly, in ‘True Lies’ Schwarzenegger plays the role of Harry Tasker, a secret agent who works for Omega Sector, a US counterterrorism agency while lying to his family about being a salesman for business software who is often away from home for his work trips. 

Schwarzenegger’s protagonists in both ‘FUBAR’ and ‘True Lies’ lead double lives and works towards balancing their responsibility as secret agents and their familial duties. Both Brunner and Tasker engage in action-filled adventures while uncovering secrets about their own family members.  

‘Unofficial True Lies sequel’

Fans were quick to draw comparisons between ‘FUBAR’ and ‘True Lies’ after the premiere of the Netflix series. “I can finally talk about @Schwarzenegger new @netflix series #Fubar. As a whole, it's a fun series. It honestly felt more like the spiritual successor to True Lies and I do wish it was actually a sequel to that phenomenal movie,” one tweeted. “#Fubar is a great show. Reminds me so much of True Lies.  True Lies is a true classic. @netflix should put that movie on the service,” another added. “currently checking out Fubar...pretty good, it's like if True Lies was set several years in the future, and Arnold is working with his daughter...,” one wrote. “The show #Fubar starring @Schwarzenegger on @netflix is very much like a spiritual successor to True Lies. I'm into it. We'll see how it goes,” a fourth commented.

One said, “Binged the whole of #Fubar. It's basically an unofficial True Lies sequel. Arnie is my favourite actor, it's always good seeing him. As usual he's the highlight. Cast is decent, humour feels like 93-2000 Arnie. However the actual show itself feels like your average netflix show” while another added, “@Schwarzenegger loving #Fubar fantastic series only watched the first 3 episodes but it’s been a laugh a minute great job to you the cast and the crew. The True Lies sequel I didn’t know I needed.” Meanwhile, one mentioned, “I’m not saying FUBAR is a great show. But as someone who spent 1994-2004 hearing about how a True Lies sequel was absolutely, positively going to happen, it scratches the right itch.”

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