As I explained in yesterday’s story, I didn’t think The Terminator franchise was dead, it was merely exiled from Paramount Pictures where it would have suffered a slow and painful death anyways.
Franchise creator James Cameron is to regain the rights in 2019, and is already targeting Deadpool director and VFX wiz Tim Miller to direct a reboot and conclusion of one of cinema’s great science fiction tales.
Just because Paramount Pictures isn’t picking up the option doesn’t mean the franchise has been terminated. Hyperbole indeed.
Thankfully, Collider put this wide-spread rumor to rest by reaching out to Skydance’s David Ellison, who teased a major announcement later this year.
“I will say we have resolved the future of the franchise and believe me its an incredibly bright future. I think where it’s going will be the continuation of what the fans really wanted since ‘T2′,” Ellison said, confirming earlier reports about furthering the ‘Judgment Day’ storyline, and concluding the franchise.
“We have something this year that we will be announcing for the franchise. It’s something we’re incredibly excited about and we think is the direction it needs to head.”
It’s worth noting that the San Diego Comic-Con is just around the corner, which is the cornerstone of major announcements.
The biggest question for us hardcore fans is how involved would Cameron be? It was just announced that his Avatar sequels – there are four planned to shoot over the course of eight years – has been delayed once again. Will he put Terminator off until he completes those? It’s unlikely since there’s already reports about Miller’s involvement. It’s quite possible that things are moving quicker than we even know, and that Paramount lets the rights slip back to Cameron knowing full well he’d get them back in 2019 anyhow.
Miller is an exiting and refreshing choice to take over Terminator, but I really was hoping to see Cameron elevate the franchise much like he did with Aliens and of course T2. For me, I just want to see a Terminator assassinate Abraham Lincoln…