In the late 1980s, after cementing his status as Hollywood's premier action hero, Arnold Schwarzenegger sought to diversify his image beyond invincible warriors and machines. Eager to explore lighter fare, he collaborated with friend and fellow actor Danny DeVito to find a suitable script. Their search led them to 'Twins', a concept that seemed improbable to many at the time: a story about two radically different fraternal twins separated at birth, one a towering, intellectually gifted scientist (Schwarzenegger), the other a street-smart, con-artist dwarf (DeVito).

The premise of 'Twins' involved a secret government experiment in 1953 to create a perfect human using genetic material from six exceptional men. However, the surrogate mother gave birth to two boys, Julius and Vincent, who were then separated. The humor and heart of the film stemmed from their adult reunion and the stark contrast in their physiques and personalities.

Hollywood studios, however, were hesitant to back a major comedy starring an actor predominantly known for his muscles and one-liners. To greenlight the project, Schwarzenegger, DeVito, and director Ivan Reitman made an unconventional agreement: they would forgo their upfront salaries in exchange for a significant share of the film's profits. This daring move effectively put their faith in the film's potential to resonate with audiences.

Schwarzenegger later confirmed the specifics of their arrangement, stating, "We took 40% of the profits!" This gamble paid off handsomely. 'Twins' went on to become a massive box office success, grossing over $216 million worldwide. Thanks to their lucrative profit-sharing deal, Schwarzenegger alone reportedly pocketed more than $40 million, making 'Twins' his most profitable film.

The success of 'Twins' cemented Schwarzenegger's comedic chops and paved the way for more lighthearted roles. The trio of Schwarzenegger, DeVito, and Reitman reunited for another high-concept comedy, 'Junior', where Schwarzenegger's character becomes pregnant. For years, a sequel to 'Twins' titled 'Triplets' was in development, initially slated to feature Eddie Murphy and later Tracy Morgan as a third brother. However, the project ultimately stalled and was confirmed to be abandoned by Schwarzenegger via People after the passing of director Ivan Reitman in February 2022.