Terminator Sequels

I always liked the Terminator franchise, so this is good news (to me)

Terminator 'spin-off' to be made

A fourth Terminator movie and a spin-off TV series is being made, according to reports.

The movie is in "the final phases of development", co-producer Andy Vajna told US trade journal Variety.

Provisionally entitled The Sarah Connor Chronicles, the TV series is not expected to star Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"The show needs to stand on its own while still being respectful of the franchise," writer Josh Friedman said. No release dates have been set.

The TV series would be set in the fictional time between the second and third movies, and would be broadcast by US TV network Fox.

The Terminator movie series starred Schwarzenegger as a cyborg, and third instalment T3 topped the box office chart in every country in which it was released in 2003.

Thank God!

The article said it would be set between the 2nd and 3rd movies, which I find a little weird. I'd be more interested in seeing a post-3rd series, seeing people fight lots of Terminators.

I also don't see how they'd do a series like that? I'd assume that they'd keep sending a Terminator (or terminatorS) after O'Conner, but that would strain credulity, for them to send a new Terminator after her, week after week.

I love all three movies. You know, I wouldn't mind watching all them back-to-back this weekend!

I'm kind of weird-ed out that they're making a Terminator TV series.

Terminator role for Brit actress

British actress Lena Headey has been cast as the star of a TV series based on the Terminator film franchise, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The 33-year-old takes the title role in The Sarah Connor Chronicles - set after the events of the second instalment of Arnold Schwarzenegger's movie series.

The character, played by Linda Hamilton on the big screen, died of leukaemia before the third film begins.

'Fourth movie'

The Terminator spin-off series is due to air on the Fox network in the US next year.

Schwarzenegger, who has just been re-elected as Governor of California, is not expected to appear.

"The show needs to stand on its own while still being respectful of the franchise," said writer Josh Friedman when details of the programme were announced last year.

A third instalment, T3: Rise Of The Machines, topped the box office chart in every country in which it was released in 2003.

Last year, Variety magazine reported that a fourth movie was in development.

I take it this is supposed to be the official site for the TV series:
www.takebackthefuture.com/
- but all I see on my screen is a black page with the text "1273 days" on it.

Terminator Sarah Connor Chronicles Gets Big Push

Fox has announced that they will run the trailer to their new series, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, during game three of the World Series.

The 45 second trailer will be the first major advertising done for the new show, which will begin airing on January 14.

"This is the biggest campaign for a mid-season show in years", says Joe Earley, vice president of marketing and communications. He went on to state that he "can't remember when we've started a campaign so early."

Advertising for the show has been around since September 17 with a series of pop-ups during television shows. The graphics were of two red dots and would disappear after four seconds.

The second phase of promotion then kicked in with a more recognizable Terminator face. The trailer will be released on October 27, and will start the new phase of full blown advertising for the show.

Fox will also be paying attention to the online market. They had leaked the premiere date of the show online one day before they released the date to the general public. "We are making sure from the outset that we have that relationship going," Earley said.

They will be putting The Sarah Connor Chronicles in the timeslot before 24, being sure that it doesn't put the show up against Heroes or switch up any other timeslots that are successful.

Next Terminator film set for 2009

Production on the fourth instalment in the Terminator film series will begin next year ahead of a 2009 release.

Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins will be the first in a proposed trilogy of films reinventing the cyborg saga.

Derek Anderson, of production company Halycon, has told industry newspaper Variety the film will be "set in the future" during "a full-scale war".

The Terminator brand is currently being revived on US television with the Sarah Connor Chronicles series.

Lena Headey plays Sarah Connor, a role previously played by Linda Hamilton in the first two Terminator films directed by James Cameron.

'Fresh new world'

Former actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, now governor of California, last played the series' robotic protagonist in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.

According to Variety, however, it is unclear whether he will appear in the new film.

"We've left it open for him to maybe do a cameo," said producer Moritz Borman. "The final decision will be based on his desire and availability."

Warner Brothers have acquired North American distribution rights to the fourth Terminator film, which it plans to release in summer 2009.

"The intention is to present a fresh new world and have this be the first of a trilogy," said Borman.

Interminable Terminator Sequels?

FOX brings forward "Terminator" spin-off

I only caught one or two "Sarah Connor Chronicles" episodes on Fox. I guess that show was taken off the air?

-Or, I guess not, , as this article I've just now spotted says it's coming back for season 2:

FOX takes back the Future with a Second Season of "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

This Season's No. 1 New Scripted Series Returns with All New Episodes

Brian Austin Green Joins the Cast as a Series Regular

FOX has picked up 13 episodes of TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES (T:SCC) for the 2008-2009 season.

The explosive, season-ending cliffhanger left CAMERON (Summer Glau) rocked by a car bomb and SARAH CONNOR (Lena Headey) close to locating an important Skynet component.

Viewers were left with unanswered questions regarding DEREK's (Brian Austin Green) true intentions and JOHN's (Thomas Dekker) fate as the savior of mankind. These questions and more will be answered in season two of TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES.

The show currently ranks as the No. 1 new scripted series this season among Adults 18-49.

The action packed series represents an exciting reinvention of the "Terminator" film franchise, in which the strong and intrepid Sarah discovers that protecting her son and stopping the rise of the machines is more difficult than she had ever imagined.

Produced by C2 Pictures in association with Warner Bros. Television, TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES is executive produced by Josh Friedman and John Wirth. James Middleton serves as consulting producer, while Toni Graphia serves as co-executive producer and Natalie Chaidez serves as a consulting producer for the series.

In other Terminator news...

Terminator 4' starts filming despite strike fears

"Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins," began shooting on Monday in New Mexico, bucking a trend in which studios have mostly avoided launching new productions they cannot be sure of completing before the Screen Actors Guild contract expires on June 30, a date being treated as a facto strike deadline.

I've never heard of this rapper guy before-
Rapper 'to appear in Terminator'

Rapper Common has landed a role in the fourth Terminator film, Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, according to Billboard magazine.

The double-Grammy winner will play a freedom fighter named Barnes who is defending the human race against a machine sent to destroy it.

The film also features Batman Begins star Christian Bale and Australian actor Sam Worthington.

It is scheduled to be released on 22 May next year.

The last Terminator movie, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, starred California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

‘Terminator Salvation’: The Dilution of a Franchise

Terminator 4 Will Be PG-13

May 5, 2008

....Variety reports that Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, better known as Terminator 4, will be aiming for a PG-13 rating. Producers at Halcyon Co. say they think it’s time to broaden the fourth film’s audience base.

It looks like part of their motivation for this is so they can sell Terminator Happy Meal toys. No that is not a joke. Halcyon’s CEO says: “Our merchandising program will be the largest to date for 'The Terminator.”

....In their statement released to Variety, Halcyon attempts to excuse it by claiming that ratings have changed over the years until a PG-13 now has the same intensity as an R-rating.

'Terminator Salvation' clip unveiled at Comic-Con

By SANDY COHEN, AP Entertainment Writer

SAN DIEGO - "Terminator Salvation" won't hit theaters until next summer, but thousands of fans got an early look at a portion of the film Saturday.

Director McG presented never-before-seen footage during a Comic-Con panel and offered a few hints about what to expect from the highly anticipated fourth installment in the "Terminator" franchise.

For example, Arnold Schwarzenegger could be back.

"The T-800 model indeed is part of the mythology of Terminator," McG said coyly, referring to the machine model California's governor played in the first three films.

....He acknowledged that the studio is responsible for some of the online rumors.

"We release, like everyone else does, misinformation campaigns," McG said. "One of the joys of going to the movies is not knowing what's going to happen."

.... Set in 2018, the film is dark and apocalyptic, "exploring what the world is like after a nuclear holocaust," the director said. "We wanted everything to feel like giant Soviet tanks crushing all comers."

"Terminator Salvation," a Warner Bros. release, is set to hit theaters in May.

Page has a new preview trailer at bottom-
10 Essential Facts About 'Terminator Salvation'

Excerpts:

by Matt McDaniel   
March 2nd, 2009

By now, if there's one thing everyone knows about "Terminator Salvation," it's not to walk around adjusting lights while Christian Bale is doing a scene.

After audio of the star's rant directed at Director of Photography Shane Hurlbut leaked online last month, a flood of talk show jokes and internet parodies followed. But even if you've heard Bale's tirade -- and his subsequent apology -- there is still a lot about the fourth "Terminator" movie you probably don't know.

So here are ten things you need to know before the movie hits screens in May.

Plus, we have the exclusive new trailer for you to watch at the bottom of the page. And if you don't think this movie looks truly awesome, then you and me are done professionally.

1. The Terminator "Terminator Salvation" is a prequel to 1984's "The Terminator" that takes place 34 years after the original.

How does that work? It is set in a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles of 2018 during the early days of the human resistance, eleven years before Kyle Reese is sent back in time to protect Sarah Conner from the first Terminator.

2. The story centers on John Conner, who has been told from birth that he will lead the humans against Skynet and its army of Terminators. But at this point he's just a foot soldier still climbing the ranks.

Everything Conner believes is called into question with the arrival of Marcus, who claims to be a human from before the bombs went off, but is revealed to be something else entirely.

4 Christian Bale was McG's first choice to play John Conner, whom he calls "the most credible action star in the world right now."

McG offered Bale the part while he was shooting "The Dark Knight," and he initially turned it down.

Bale told McG that if he could refine the script to the point where it could be read on stage without any special effects and still be a compelling story, he would agree to star in it.

5 To that end, McG brought Jonathan Nolan on board to rewrite the script. Nolan is the brother of director Christopher Nolan, and they collaborated on the screenplays for "The Prestige" and "The Dark Knight."

Anthony E. Zuiker, the creator of TV's "CSI" franchise, also worked on the script. With the script in place, Bale signed on to play Conner, with the option to do two more "Terminator" movies if this one is successful.

Related thread:
Christian Bale (Actor)

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The new Terminator film, Terminator Salvation, has gotten mostly negative reviews.

I have seen one or two positive reviews, but most everyone has trashed it.

Movie Review: Terminator Salvation

MOVIE REVIEW: Michelle Weighs in on Terminator Salvation!

Terminator Salvation Movie Review - News Blaze

Box-office first look: 'Museum' healthy, 'Terminator' misfires

Terminator Movie Review -Monster and Critics

Terminator Salvation: 20 Things We Didn't Like, 10 We Did

Contains strong language:
Harry releases the review of the flaming turd he's clenched for 2 days: TERMINATOR SALVATION! - Ain't It Cool

A review for all you "Termi-haters" out there

Excerpt:

If you have the uncanny ability to really suspend your disbelief (and I mean REALLY suspend it), then "T4" is quite an enjoyable film.

Many criticize it for having a different feel than the original three, but this film's setting changes the whole perspective and gives it a much grittier slant.

The film suffered most from re-writes, as Christian Bale was originally supposed to portray Marcus Wright, but opted to instead take the role of John Connor, a secondary part as first scripted.

They then had to make Connor as significant as Wright, which made some of the content feel forced.

On a side note, I need to vent some more about rappers continuously wanting to be actors, but the grim reality is that the majority of rappers can't act their way out of a wet paper bag.

Screwing up the quality of this film is the pretentiously named Common (but the director's name "McG" is somehow even more pretentious). Perhaps Common, will.i.am, and Ludacris (that's right, I said it) could get together and make an incredibly horrible film and more people will realize this Hollywood phenomenon.

Overall, it was a highly entertaining film. It had a lot of unnecessary explosions, it didn't require you to use too much brainpower to figure out what was going on (robots=bad, humans=good, Schwarzenegger=CGI) and Helena Bonham Carter wasn't in it for too long.

While it was much, much better than "Terminator: Rise of the Machines" it's still a far cry away from "The Terminator" and especially "Terminator 2: Judgment Day."

Time to Terminate the Terminator

Excerpt:

Compared to the new Star Trek, this is an abject waste of time and the death-knell for a once promising series. If there's yet another sequel - and of course there could be, unless attendance for this one drops off a cliff, which it should - I don't plan on spending another dollar on it, much less ten.

Action-packed 'Terminator: Salvation' takes future too seriously

Jumbled plot, boring characters doom 'Terminator Salvation'

'Terminator Salvation': No wonder Christian Bale was angry - Entertainment Weekly

May 24, 2009 | by Clark Collis

In retrospect it seems ironic (or, perhaps, just plain wrong) that the man who provoked Christian Bale's infamous wig-out on the set of Terminator Salvation was the film's director of photography.

Because the look of this fourth Terminator movie is pretty much the only good thing about it.

Certainly, the film's prevailing gunmetal tones perfectly fit a grim plot in which John Connor (Bale), his pregnant wife (Bryce Dallas Howard), and a mysteriously resurrected convict (Sam Worthington) fight an array of killer robots in a post-holocaust world.

(Actually, the mystery of Worthington's character was, unwisely, resolved in at least one of the trailers, but I see no reason to repeat that error here.)

To be fair, my colleague Owen Gleiberman liked the movie more than me and director McG is not the first person who has failed to live up to a franchise standard set by James Cameron, maker of first two Terminator films.

Witness David Fincher's Alien 3 which followed Cameron's sublime Aliens. However, Fincher's effort was at least interesting.

Terminator Salvation, on the other hand, is both an unbelievable snooze and simply unbelievable on more levels than even the infinite space afforded by the internet has room for me to recount.

Finally, I found it impossible to care about what happened to characters this thinly sketched.

In particular, the three-dimensionality of Howard's role pretty much begins and ends with her bump. It is also tempting to say that even Bale appears, for once, to just be phoning things in except (a.) we have evidence that he wasn't and (b.) the last thing I need is for that guy to get mad at me.