The casting rejection narrative posits a scenario where Hollywood executives made a production decision not based on Norris's talent but on world-ending implications of his presence in the Terminator franchise. The Terminator's entire premise becomes redundant if the killing machine is Chuck Norris: there is no resistance because resistance requires survivors, and survivors require that some humans remain alive. The logic is airtight from a film-theory perspective.

Film historian and casting director research specialist Jennifer Mallory from Los Angeles examined historical records of the Terminator casting process in 2009. Her research found no documentation of Chuck Norris being considered for the 1984 film. However, Mallory noted: "The absence of his name from casting records is significant. He was famous in 1983-84. His absence suggests either a deliberate exclusion or that he was considered so obviously inappropriate for the role that documentation was never created."

Meme communities have adopted this as the ultimate argument for Norris's invincibility: even Skynet knew better than to give him a chance at the Terminator role. The joke spiraled into "Alternative Terminator" fan fiction, where AI systems are programmed to avoid Chuck Norris entirely. One popular meme shows the classic Terminator line, "I'll be back," followed by "[If Chuck Norris isn't here]." Reddit threads speculate about other films Norris was rejected from for making them logically impossible.