Emilia Clarke Reflects on Her Challenging Role in ‘Terminator Genisys’

LOS ANGELES, CA — Emilia Clarke, best known for her role as Daenerys Targaryen in HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones,’ recently opened up about her experience filming ‘Terminator Genisys,’ a project that did not meet expectations at the box office.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Clarke recounted reuniting with director Alan Taylor, who previously directed several episodes of ‘Game of Thrones,’ including the Season 1 finale. However, she noted Taylor was not at his best during the production of ‘Genisys.’ Clarke remarked, “He was not the director I remembered. He didn’t have a good time. No one had a good time.”

Filmed in 2014, ‘Terminator Genisys’ was released in 2015 and struggled to resonate with critics and audiences alike, earning a mere 26% approval rating based on 263 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. The film did manage to gross $440 million worldwide against a $155 million budget, but many considered it underwhelming, leading to the cancellation of planned sequels.

Despite its lackluster performance, Clarke expressed relief for not needing to participate in a sequel, reflecting on her casting process. Originally competing with Brie Larson and Tatiana Maslany for the role of Sarah Connor, Clarke was ultimately chosen due to her rising stardom. “Paramount reportedly considered Larson the best fit for the role, but the job offer eventually went to Clarke,” she recalled.

Clarke’s experience with ‘Terminator Genisys’ did not deter her from pursuing other projects. Following its release, she appeared in several successful films, including ‘Me Before You‘ (2016) and ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story‘ (2018). While ‘Genisys’ did not provide the expected boost, Clarke remains celebrated for her iconic portrayal of Daenerys in ‘Game of Thrones.’ She noted, “A flopped movie doesn’t define my whole acting career.”

‘Game of Thrones,’ where Clarke gained global recognition, is available for streaming on Max, continuing to capture the attention of new audiences looking to discover her work.