The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day continue to stand the test of time as some of the finest sci-fi action movies ever made. However, the subsequent sequels always felt like they were trying (and failing) to recapture that lightning in a bottle. James Cameron revealed last year that he’s been working on his own secret Terminator project, and while speaking with Empire for the 40th anniversary of the original movie, he dropped a big hint at what it could look like. TL;DR: Don’t expect to see any familiar characters or iconography.
“This is the moment when you jettison everything that is specific to the last 40 years of Terminator, but you live by those principles,” Cameron said, explaining that the franchise needs to move past its iconic characters. “You get too inside it, and then you lose a new audience because the new audience care much less about that stuff than you think they do. That’s the danger, obviously, with Avatar as well, but I think we’ve proven that we have something for new audiences.”
This means no T-800, no Sarah Connor, and no John Connor. Stripping away these elements would take the franchise back to its bones: humans vs machines, and that’s just what Cameron wants. “You’ve got powerless main characters, essentially, fighting for their lives, who get no support from existing power structures, and have to circumvent them but somehow maintain a moral compass. And then you throw AI into the mix,” Cameron teased. “Those principles are sound principles for storytelling today, right? So I have no doubt that subsequent Terminator films will not only be possible, but they’ll kick ass. But this is the moment where you jettison all the specific iconography.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger has already said that he’s done with the franchise, and I can’t say I blame him. The last three installments (Terminator: Salvation, Terminator: Genisys, and Terminator: Dark Fate) were each meant to kick-start a new trilogy, but they all underperformed. Taking things back to basics, without any of the baggage of the previous movies, might be the best way to go.
“I won’t be back.”
👎
Translation: Arnold is too old even with de-aging, so the suits have agreed.
I like that Cameron fella. I hope he’s able to create something interesting in that universe because there’s a lot of opportunity. They just need to move away from big-bang-boom action and focus on story. I get worn out on modern action flicks because they always have to go way over the top (not believable) and the action is just non-stop (gets old).
Sarah Connor Chronicles was dope. A mini series would work even. The movies could retain more of that action though.
Mini series is such an underrated platform.
It commits the creator to a fixed duration but doesnt force you into the movie trilogy paradigm.
The new anime over on Netflix was dope and had some decent philosophical dialogue.
I for one look forward to the next Terminator movie, written by ChatGPT.
where humans come from the past to eradicate the valiant machines?
Honestly, couldn’t be worse than some of the recent Terminator movies.
That’s great! I’m so tired of everything being about John Connor.
Thank God, can they also not include any new characters?
I think there are enough Terminator movies now.
Terminator Zero was ok
Somewhere good somewhere okay I’m just saying I think we have enough.
I know I’m in the minority, but I really like Genysis. And I can enjoy Salvation when I think of it as a “what if” kind of thing. But T3 and Dark Fate were both hot garbage.
Genisys is a half decent action film but a terrible Terminator film. I put most of the blame on Jai Courtney, terrible actor.
The only part I really liked was the recreation of the original film, that was done really well.
I was going to point out how bad Terminator Salvation was. That movie killed the Terminator franchise for me.
Then again, this is James Cameron and he wasn’t part of that mess.
All young me wanted was the intro to T2 as a movie
Take Band of Brothers, Terminator salvation and the intro to T2. Put it into a blender, and serve with a light topping of Edge of Tomorrow
That’s why I pumped so many coins into the T2: Arcade machine. Half the game is set in the future war and I loved it to bits, my wallet, not so much.
I’m glad he realized his mistake with Avatar 2
well, the original definition of the word avatar is a reincarnation of an older character.
the definition of a terminator, on the other hand…
So… diverse characters that have the same arcs as the originals and a copy/pasted story from the original but for a modern audience. Can’t wait.
I like the idea that when you travel back in time you create a new timeline so there’s no going back and endless possibilities for new stories!
Is he self-funding and self-distributing? No Hollywood studio is capable of permitting a single movie to be made that isn’t nostalgia-bait.
