Action star-turned-California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will not be reprising his famous role as The Terminator in the forthcoming movie sequel he has been replaced by young Australian actor Sam Worthington.

Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, the fourth film in the hit franchise, is due to start shooting in April (08) in New Mexico and is scheduled to hit cinemas in 2009.

Titanic director James Cameron was in charge of the first two Terminator films and is reported to have recommended Worthington to new director Joseph McGinty Nichol, after working with the actor on forthcoming movie Avatar, reports the Sydney Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Worthington will be joined in the futuristic action feature by Batman Begins star Christian Bale.

Schwarzenegger starred in all three previous installments, before turning his attention to politics in 2003.