For better or worse, the industry seems to have a very short memory. Even shorter than usual these days. Over the weekend a report emerged that the Terminator franchise was toast. Sources claimed that the studio (Paramount) had decided against making a sequel to 2015’s critically-lambasted (but still globally-successful) Terminator: Genisys. That part is true. Paramount had initially planned for Genisys to be the first chapter in a new trilogy of sequels. Those plans are dead, but despite what the outlet says, the franchise is not.
The mixed response to Genisys isn’t the sole reason for the cancellation of its sequels, however. There’s simply no time left now. Franchise creator James Cameron regains control of the rights at the start of 2019, making it impossible to mount two films before then, at least without rushing them. With the response to Genisys being what it was, Paramount has no real incentive to pump out two follow-ups quickly. They’d rather just let it lie and move onto something else. Again, I reiterate that the franchise is not dead.
Just three months ago, it was that producer David Ellison, who scooped up the rights in 2013 and oversaw Genisys, isn’t resting on his laurels. Ellison has already entered into an agreement with James Cameron to oversee the next film after the filmmaker regains the rights in 2019. They’ve even gone so far as to enlist a director already. Tim Miller, of Deadpool fame, is in early talks to helm whatever the eventual reboot ends up becoming. Chances are the deal will go through as well, since Miller and Cameron have been pals for at least a decade now. The duo tried to mount a new animated Heavy Metal anthology back in the mid-2000s.
So yes, the Terminator franchise is dead, but only at Paramount. It’s next phase is already being planned and I won’t be too surprised if the metal menace is gracing the silver screen again sometime in 2020 or by 2021 at the latest. As for the outlet’s instance that “the Arnold Schwarzenegger franchise is dead”? Well, I very much doubt that. Arnold has stuck by the series from the get-go, no matter who was at the helm. Do we really think he’s going to sit out the first new entry since 1991 that is being overseen by lifelong friend James Cameron? To paraphrase Arnold’s most iconic role, trust me, he’ll be back.
