When it was reported that The Terminator franchise was dead, we laughed it off because anyone who understands how the industry works knows that just because Paramount Pictures let the rights lapse, didn’t mean another studio would do the same.

In fact, the report was even more bizarre considering James Cameron is on the cusp of regaining the full rights to the franchise in 2019 and even had reported that he was eyeing Deadpool‘s Tim Miller to direct what they were calling “a reboot and conclusion” to the franchise.

Fandango was able to connect with franchise star Arnold Schwarzenegger who set the record straight about how off-base the report was:

“I don’t want to call it, like, fake news, like the president calls it, but I think people just write things – I have no idea why. Just because Paramount doesn’t want to pick up the ‘Terminator’ franchise, you have 15 other studios willing to do it – that doesn’t mean the Terminator franchise is finished, right? It just means they are on their way to negotiate with another studio, but I can’t give you the details of that. They’ll announce that. But, yes, the ‘Terminator’ franchise is never finished. And remember that after 2018, James Cameron is getting it back, and then it will continue on!”

EXACTLY. I love hearing this straight out of the horse’s mouth.

With that, Schwarzenegger, who nearly joined Shane Black’s now-filming The Predator, isn’t closing any doors of his own. In fact, he’s wide open to returning for the grand finale.

“Cameron will be producing it, and there will be another director on it. I’m always looking forward to doing another ‘Terminator’, especially if the story is written well and it’s really entertains the whole world.”

To recap, the franchise is alive and well, Cameron, who is off to shoot Avatar in the fall, will be producing, Miller could direct and Schwarzenegger could also star. They’ll all be back.

Watch for an alleged huge announcement this year.