Summary
Almost against my better judgment, James Cameron’s newTerminatorproject is getting me kind of excited about the franchise again.James Cameron moviesare always major events, with the writer/director constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with visual effects forward while creating memorable heroes and villains. I could successfully argue that theTerminatormovie franchiseshould have stopped after the second entry since the sci-fi saga felt satisfyingly wrapped up by the sequel’s final scene. Of course, the movies were simply too profitable for that to happen.
The subsequent four sequels all struggled to recapture what made the first two work. The third entry was a lukewarm remake ofJudgment Day,Salvationtried - and failed - to take the series in a different direction, while the fifth and sixth entries took the legacy sequel route to mediocre results. I’m mildly curious about Netflix’sTerminator Zeroanime,but after so many duds in a row, anotherTerminatormovie would need to work hard to get me invested again.
James Cameron’s Secret Terminator Project Is Exciting Regardless Of Previous Failures
Cameron’s next Terminator is top secret for now
During a conversation withTHRwhere he touched on his lack of involvement with the anime, Cameron confirmed he was working on a newTerminatorproject, but one that is “…totally classified” for now. I find it interesting the filmmaker didn’t even reveal if the “Terminator stuff” he’s developing is even a movie.Regardless of howTerminator: Dark Fateturned out, the news Cameron is still developing material in the universe he created can’t help but intrigue meever so slightly.
If Cameron and his team are working on a new story, I hope it’s trying to reinvent what audiences expect from a Terminator movie.
Many of Cameron’s predictions about the future of technology, warfare or AI have proven eerily prescient, and if he’s working on something new within the franchise, there must be a hook he’s interested in. According to a talk Cameron gave to Dell Technologies World in 2023 (viaX), the next movie will involve AI, though he offered no further details. I can see why this would interest him so much since the question of how AI will impact the world in the years again is a very current concern.
What I’d love to see from the nextTerminatoris something fresh.The slasher/chase angle has been done to death, which was part of the problem withDark Fateand why it failed to connect. That 2019 adventure felt too familiar, with the setpieces both lacking visceral impact while recycling concepts from prior outings. If Cameron and his team are working on a new story, I hope it’s trying to reinvent what audiences expect from aTerminatormovie.
1984
100%
1991
91%
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
2003
70%
2008-2009
85%
2009
33%
2015
26%
2019
2024
N/A
Like many fans of the first two installments, I spent years waiting for word about Cameron reuniting with Arnold Schwarzenegger for a thirdTerminator. Issues over copyright and royalties eventually saw the director pass on the third film, and he largely kept his distance from the series for over a decade.Cameron later consulted onTerminator: Genisys, though his creative role was limitedon the movie. It was his idea that the fake skin on the T-800 model could age like a regular human, explaining the return of Arnie in the sequel.
Dark Fate signaled to me that it might be time to retire the series after so many failed reboots.
I never understood the filmmaker’s pre-release comments aboutGenisyspraising it, and he went so far as to claim the badly-reviewed entry had “reinvigorated” the saga. The rights of the property later reverted to Cameron, who planned on creating a newTerminatortrilogy with director Tim Miller. From all accounts, Cameron took a heavy creative hand inDark Fate, from the screenwriting right through to post-production.
For me, this sounded like a mark of quality control, but the most questionable elements of the film- such asthe controversial death of John Connorin the opening - came from him. He and Miller also clashed while working on the sequel, and whileDark Fatescored a reasonable 70% onRotten Tomatoes, it only earned $250 million worldwide (viaThe Numbers). It also signaled to me that it might be time to retire the series after so many failed reboots.
Will James Cameron’s New Terminator Project Be The One To Save The Franchise?
Where can the Terminator possibly go now?
I don’t know if it’s nostalgia or misplaced franchise loyalty, butI don’t wantTerminatorto end on such a flat note withDark Fate. The series is iconic for a reason, and it really shouldn’t be so hard to make a new entry with something original to say. Cameron has been honest about the failings ofDark Fate, and while he has an obvious financial incentive to keep making sequels, he must know serious course correction is needed.
Outside ofThe Terminatormovies, James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s only other movie collaboration is 1994’sTrue Lies.
It’s hard to say ifTerminator 7will save the franchise or not, or if audiences can be lured back. I’ll keep an open mind, and from the sounds of it, the next film will be a total reset without Schwarzenegger or other cast members returning.AI and the development of Skynet is a good angle to explore for next outingtoo, but whether it’s enough to reinvigorate the property is a totally different question.
The Terminator
Cast
The Terminator, directed by James Cameron and released in 1984, features a cyborg assassin sent back in time to eliminate Sarah Connor, the mother of a future resistance leader. As the relentless machine pursues its mission, a human warrior is sent to protect her and secure humanity’s survival.
