November 11, 1999. Copyright, 1999, Graphic News. All rights reserved

ARNIE BATTLES FALLEN ANGEL
By Julie Mullins

LONDON, November 11, Graphic News:  AFTER A two-year absence from the screen and recent rumours touting him as a future governor of California Ð though he himself denies it Ð Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to big-budget action Ð duelling with the Devil in the supernatural thriller, End of Days, distributed by Universal Pictures.
In the final days of the millennium, the devil turns up in Manhattan to seek out a human wife with whom to sire the Anti-Christ. He espies daycare worker Christine Bethlehem, who turns for help to ex-cop Jericho Cane (Schwarzenegger). Now the head of an elite security firm, Cane is battling his own demons after the murder of his wife and daughter.
Confronted by a villain who cannot be dispatched by bullets or other conventional methods, Jericho hunts desperately for a way to stop the Prince of Darkness destroying the world but to do so he must first regain faith in himself. Naturally, mayhem abounds throughout.
Besides Arnie, top billing goes to Gabriel Byrne, who plays Satan, and Robin Tunney as his chosen bride.
In September, USA Today reported that two different endings had been filmed, with contrasting fates for lead character Jericho Cane, but that no decision had been made as to which outcome will be used.
Schwarzenegger himself says that he wanted the film to be Òreally, really scaryÉ combining elements of horror, action and the supernatural in a way no audience had seen beforeÉ I wanted the audience to have nightmares!Ó 
He felt the goal had been accomplished when he asked director Peter Hyams to screen a rough-cut for his friend James Cameron, after which the director of both The Terminator and Aliens said he thought the film, even in its unfinished form, was Òtoo intenseÓ.
ÒI couldn't have been more proud. ThatÕs when I knew weÕd done itÓ, said Schwarzenegger. 
The picture is ArnieÕs first big action thriller effort since the costly flop Batman & Robin, for which he took home $25 million. His payday for End of Days is unlikely to be less but then, he may have political aspirations to fundÉ
/ENDS

Sources: Internet Movie Database, www.end-of-days.com

Release dates for End of Days (1999)
Nov 24: USA, Norway, Sweden
Nov 25: Argentina, Singapore
Nov 26: Denmark, Finland, Italy
Dec 2: Germany
Dec 9: Netherlands, Slovenia
Dec 10: UK
Dec 15: Belgium
Dec 17: Portugal
Dec 26: Australia