Schwarzenegger played the Terminator in three blockbuster films

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appears in the new Terminator film - thanks to technology.

An image of Schwarzenegger, who played the killer robot in the 1984 original, was inserted from earlier films because he was too busy to shoot new footage.

The 61-year-old's appearance in Terminator Salvation was confirmed after a press screening in Los Angeles.

Schwarzenegger had said he was pleased by the prospect in case he wanted to "jump over again" into acting.

Governor Schwarzenegger says he has met director McG - real name Joseph McGinty Nichol - and plans to attend the 14 May premiere of the film.

Terminator Salvation, which stars Christian Bale as resistance leader John Connor, opens in the US on 21 May and in the UK on 3 June.

A review published on the Ain't It Cool News website said the film left the viewer feeling "uplifted and hopeful".

The "brief" cameo by Schwarzenegger was "a cool moment" but Christian Bale's performance was "a little over the top at times", the review - which claims to be the first - said.