He's produced "Red Heat", "Rambo III" and "Lolita", but we won't hold it against him. "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" producer Mario Kassar charms BBCi Films.

"T3" has done well in the States, but how disastrous would it have been had it bombed?

A big disaster. You're always worried if you're making a big movie that, using your words, it ends up as a 'disaster'. Thank God it didn't.

Why did you choose Jonathan Mostow to direct?

We had a meeting with Jonathan, who we found was a big fan of the franchise. He knew everything about "T1" and "T2" and he kind of had "T3" in his head, was not scared that Cameron did one and two, and was ready to continue on his own and do "T3". So we picked him.

There's a lot of special effects work in the movie, but not just CGI. Were you keen to avoid relying on computers?

There's too many special effects movies that have been done in the last years, where the story suffers a lot. We wanted to have a very linear story. A thriller. A story that had all kind of heart and soul. Then if you needed the CGI for that character, for that scene, then you do it. Not just to say, "We have a special effects movie."

Was it difficult to get Arnie back on board?

At the beginning, maybe, but I think at the back of his head, unknown to Arnie, he probably always wanted to do it. He couldn't walk down the street or anywhere without someone asking him, "When are you going to be back?" They keep on asking, then sooner or later you have to do it.

Do you think he'll come back again?

Who knows. Probably. Probably not. I really don't know.

How did a boy from Beirut become one of the most successful producers in Hollywood?

I don't know about the most successful. Slowly, slowly you go up and then you go down and then you go up again. Like everything else. I think if you're persistent and you like what you're doing and you believe in what you're doing, sooner or later you hit something.

It's been ten years since "T2" - why should BBCi Films readers come back for more?

Why not?

Sell the movie to the audience...

I think it already has a title, a title that sells it. Arnie's back.

Do you understand all the time jumping in the movie?

Of course I do. Why, do you?

I was scratching my head. Perhaps I need to see it again...

Then good, see it again. There are always some loopholes in these things, nothing is exactly perfect.