Calum Von Moger once played a young Arnold Schwarzenegger, and now he embraces the “I’ll be back” mantra. In a recent YouTube video, Von Moger reflected on his renewed ‘spark’ for bodybuilding. Von Moger also recounted his experience portraying Schwarzenegger in the 2018 film Bigger.
As a Mr. Universe titleholder, Von Moger aimed for new heights. Both on and off the stage, he sought to excel. His role as a young Schwarzenegger in Bigger made him a prominent figure, cementing his status as one of bodybuilding’s most recognizable faces.
Yet, the road to fame proved perilous. Von Moger’s troubles escalated rapidly. After a desperate leap from a two-story window, he ended up in the ICU. Doctors placed him in a medically induced coma to aid his recovery. Despite bleak prognoses, Von Moger defied expectations and made a full recovery.
The tribulations didn’t stop there. Von Moger faced legal challenges after a road rage incident. Despite a court battle, he was found guilty of multiple charges, including damage to property, unlawful possession of weapons, and careless driving. His mental resilience was further tested by the tragic loss of his brother.
Today, despite these setbacks, Calum Von Moger seems to be in a healthier headspace. He embodies a spirit of resilience and renewal.
Calum Von Moger Talks New ‘Spark’ in Bodybuilding, Reflects on Playing Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Film ‘Bigger’
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Von Moger, discussing with Jay Cutler, reveals his 30-pound weight gain and renewed dedication to consistent gym workouts.
“Looking back now, I remember that conversation I had with you. Yeah, I was in a different world, different — I wasn’t — I kind of lost — I still didn’t have my spark back.
I think it wasn’t until really in January that I got back into training again, into the gym. Yeah, consistent, and then I started eating again. So, yeah, bulked up. I was looking pretty lean back then,” said Von Moger. “Thirty pounds, about 30 pounds [I put on].”
Despite doubts about his physique, Von Moger stresses the gym’s role in his mental well-being.
“I don’t feel myself when I haven’t worked out. That’s when we spoke that last time. I wasn’t feeling myself at all. I had lost — honestly, I will say having injuries and having a little bit of a different look to the completely uninjured look, it was demotivating. I’d see that and I’d be like, it’s never going to look like that before, it’s not going to look like your past pictures.
I lost a lot of a bit of that motivation and excitement because I knew it would never be like that. But, I got it back. I’ve accepted everything. I probably just had to process it and it took a little bit longer to come to terms with what’s been going on and where I’m at. Once I accepted that I could go to the gym, it’s not about trying to be looking like this for Mr. Universe, it’s more about just going there to get the pump, to be disconnected from everything else that’s going on in my day.”
“I can go there and work on myself and get a filthy pump,” adds Von Moger.
In his youth, Von Moger aimed for more than the ordinary, uncertain about his path beyond weightlifting.
“For me, I felt like I never wanted to be ordinary. I never wanted to do what the other kids were doing. I didn’t want to be a bricky, a sparky, a plumber, go to a university.
I didn’t want to do these things I really didn’t know what my thing was but I had passion in the weights. I loved that feeling. I believed in myself enough to say hey bodybuilding or the fitness industry, it started off as bodybuilding.”
Millions of bodybuilders aspired to portray Schwarzenegger in ‘Bigger,’ yet Von Moger secured the coveted role.
“That was Steve Jones, he’s a producer and he was looking for – so he basically, he’d gotten the permission from there’s a book on Joe Weider and he had the rights to turn that book into a motion film. He was looking, I think I maybe it was an email. They reached out to me to play the role of a young Arnold. I was like, ‘This is what I was born to do in a sense.’ People had called this like five, six years ago, saying you’re going to play Arnold in a movie one time.”
Despite his lack of formal acting training, Von Moger’s charisma and physique secured him the prestigious role.
“So yeah, I went to Steve’s place, I said hey, and I’ve got no acting experience. I’m not an actor. I’m a stupid bodybuilder. I’m a bodybuilder and I haven’t done a lot of acting experience anyway. I pulled up to his house, we had a meeting, he liked the physique, liked the look, can you act? I said, ‘Yeah, of course I can act.’”
“I did it, and they said yeah we want you to play Arnold. We love the look and I got on board with a voice acting coach. And that was right when we were filming Generation Iron 2 or something.”
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He mentions that Bob Cicherillo and Sergio Olvia Jr. were also cast for roles in the film.
“I ended up filming in Birmingham, Alabama. That had Bob Cicherillo [in it],” said Von Moger. “It was the original Sergio Arnold standoff. Yeah, he [Sergio Oliva Jr.] played his dad.”
Von Moger has hinted at a potential return to bodybuilding, suggesting it in a May 2024 Instagram post. He expressed his interest with the caption, ‘Tell them I’m coming.’
Portraying Arnold Schwarzenegger was a significant honor for Von Moger, acknowledging the impact of bodybuilding training on his mental well-being in 2024.
View the full video from the Cutler Cast YouTube channel here:
Overview
Calum Von Moger journey, from portraying a young Arnold Schwarzenegger to his recent reflections on bodybuilding, embodies resilience and renewal. Despite facing adversities, his commitment to fitness remains unwavering, reflecting the transformative power of bodybuilding on mental well-being.
Featured Image @jaycutler, @calumvonmoger, @arnoldschwarzeneggerpics (Instagram)