The Terminator: The Franchise

[muthagoose]

New "Terminator" Trilogy Planned

After much talk and posturing over the future of "The Terminator" franchise in recent years, something surprising has happened - producers Mario Kassar and Andy Vajna have given up their baby.

The Halcyon Co. has acquired the franchise rights to the popular "The Terminator" movie series and intend to make a new trilogy that would anchor their movie company.

"Terminator 4" will be based on a script by John Brancato and Michael Ferris ("Terminator 3"), and Halcyon plans to immediately begin preproduction on the film with the hope of a Summer 2009 release.

Neither creator James Cameron or original star Arnold Schwarzenegger will be involved in the project, which picks up with John Connor in his 30s leading what's left of the human race against the machines.

The deal includes the right to produce any future "Terminator" projects in any format (film, TV, etc.). It also includes all future merchandising and licensing rights, and certain rights to the upcoming TV series "The Sarah Connor Chronicles."

[muthagoose]

"Terminator 4" In Legal Limbo

image T Asset has sued MGM and claim the studio is interfering with their right to negotiate for the distribution of the planned fourth installment of the highly successful series reports the trades.

T Asset is a subsiduary of Halcyon Co. who acquired the rights to produce further "Terminator" film sequels in May. Using a script by "T3" writers John Brancato and Michael Ferris, they planned to relaunch the franchise with a big-budget sequel.

They now claim that MGM did not negotiate in good faith when the two parties sat down in June. MGM acquired first rights in the 1990s for an exclusive, 30-day negotiation for distribution rights to the films in the franchise.

MGM made an initial offer of $200 million in production and marketing commitments, but insisted on approvals of key cast, crew, script and budget which T Asset didn't like. MGM didn't like that T Asset kept the screenplay confidential and hadn't revealed who would direct and star in the film. As a result MGM suspended negotiations, awaiting a counterproposal.

Now, with the month-long window over, MGM is claiming the negotiating window remained open and that T Asset could not talk with other distributors. So T Asset are asking the court for a permanent injunction against MGM to allow them to take the project to other potential producers/distributors.

Ultimately this just means one thing - another delay. If dragged out, a 2009

[muthagoose]

Edward Furlong to return in Terminator 4?

According to a scooper over at AICN Edward Furlong (pictured inside) will return as John Connors in Terminator 4! The script for the fourth film was written by John Brancato and Michael Ferris and will star Marcus Schenkenberg. It is also said that Arnold Schwarzenegger will return in 'likeness' only - but things change! “Terminator 4” will revolve around a thirty-something John Connor doing battle with the endoskeleton son-of-a-bitches.

[muthagoose]

"Terminator 4" News

"The Sarah Connor Chronicles" producer James Middleton tells IGN Movies that "Terminator 4" is still very much happening at The Halcyon Company and revealed some new details.

Penned by Michael Ferris and John D. Brancato ("Terminator 3") and intended to be the first of three new movies, the new one will follow the events of "T3" and be post-apocalyptic. While it's not known whether Nick Stahl and Claire Danes will return, John Connor and Kate Brewster are indeed in the script.

The movie will feature a new hero which Middleton says would be like how "Ben-Hur was influenced by Jesus Christ, but it was his story. Much in that way, this character will be influenced by John Connor." No director is set yet. Halcyon would like to be in pre-production in October for a 2009 release.

[muthagoose]

'Terminator 4' Rumors Heat Up, Diesel the Latest Cause...

This evening AICN posted a wild rumor - in addition to news that McG might direct - that Vin Diesel might star in Terminator 4 and the new endo-skeleton wrapped in flesh! I like the Diesel and wish he'd stop with all this family crap... bring on the pain and the war of the machines! Rachel Weisz and Chloe Sevigny are rumored to be in battle for a role as well. More news as it comes in.

[muthagoose]

Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins

The secret is out as Warner Bros. Pictures has landed the North American rights to the new Terminator trilogy, which begins with Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins in 2009! Wondering why the new title is missing a "4" in it? Read on and see what direction the franchise is heading in, we'll know more in the "future" (wink).

Warner Bros. has acquired North American distrib rights to "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins," triggering an early 2008 production start for a film that seeks to reinvent the cyborg saga with a storyline to be told over a three-pic span, according to Variety.

WB plans to distribute "Terminator Salvation" in summer 2009.

The Warner deal dashes MGM's hopes of corralling distribution rights to the film. The Lion planned to pepper its slate with tentpoles such as "The Hobbit" and "Terminator," but neither project has worked out for the distributor.

Halcyon sued MGM in July in Los Angeles Superior Court, claming the distrib was interfering with its distribution plans on the fourth "Terminator" film on the basis of an MGM claim that it had acquired an exclusive 30-day negotiating window.

The "Terminator" pic franchise got a new lease on life in spring, when privately funded Halcyon and its co-CEOs Victor Kubicek and Derek Anderson teamed with "Terminator 3" exec producer Moritz Borman to acquire film, merchandising and licensing rights from ex-Carolco partners Andy Vajna and Mario Kassar. Kubicek, Anderson and Borman are producing the new film, with Peter D. Graves as exec producer.

WB had first right of negotiation for domestic theatrical and TV distribution rights because the studio played the same role on 2003's Jonathan Mostow-directed "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines." That pic posted a domestic gross of $150 million and a worldwide total of $427 million.

The producers said that the new film will carry the size and scale of "Terminator 3," and will have an event-sized budget. It will likely be less than the $200 million pricetag of "Terminator 3," which was saddled with extravagant costs that included above the line payouts, rights payments and heavy fees incurred through a complex financial structure.

Warner Bros. is also producing a smallscreen "Terminator" adaptation, "The Sarah Connor Chronicles," for Fox's midseason sked.

WB's commitment solidified the pic's financing structure and ensured a start date, producers said. They will now zero in on overseas distribution. Sony Pictures Entertainment, which distributed "T3" in most overseas territories, is expected to get first crack at a reprise. Several other territories are spoken for, including Japan, where Toho-Towa is expected to distribute once again.

A screenplay has been completed by "Terminator 3" scribes John Brancato and Michael Ferris, and the financiers and studio are close to locking a director. While industry buzz has "Charlie's Angels" director McG as the odds-on favorite for the assignment, the producers said no final decision had yet been made.

The first two "Terminator" films, directed by James Cameron, used contemporary settings to pit Sarah and John Connor against indestructible cyborgs. "T3" was also set in the present day and ended just as the machines initiated a nuclear apocalypse. "Terminator Salvation" was deliberately not given a number after its title, because Halcyon is eager to make it clear that the fourth film heads into an entirely different setting.

"This is set in the future, in a full-scale war between Skynet and humankind," Anderson told Daily Variety.

Borman said: "The third film was really the conclusion of what happened in the 'now.' You will find the most-loved characters, but the intention here is to present a fresh new world and have this be the first of a trilogy."

The producers said it wasn't yet clear whether Arnold Schwarzenegger will be back for his fourth appearance in the franchise that launched his movie career. "T3" was the last film in which he starred before becoming governor of California.

"We've left it open for him to maybe do a cameo," Borman said. "He has an important job, as we know, and the final decision will be based on his desire and availability, along with what the director wants."

The move on "Terminator" comes after Halcyon secured first-look rights to the literary works of sci-fi master Philip K. Dick.

[muthagoose]

Christian Bale as John Connor?

Christian Bale will play John Connor in the upcoming Terminator film, reports Ain't It Cool News. The article cites a source who "has never been wrong before." Earlier this week came news that McG would likely direct the film. Could Bale's casting be a glimmer of hope for the franchise?

[muthagoose]

Christian Bale Joins "Terminator 4"

Ain't It Cool News reports that Batman himself Christian Bale is to become a part of the Terminator franchise next year.

The site indicates that Bale has been cast as John Connor in the upcoming fourth feature film "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins" for Warner Bros. Pictures.

McG is helming the project which begins shooting early 2008 and hopes to kick off a new trilogy of future-set films covering the war between humanity and the robots of Skynet.

The project is on target for a Summer 2009 release.

[muthagoose]

NEW INFO ON 'TERMINATOR 4'

John Connor is not the main character of Terminator 4; that character is someone named Marcus. Marcus was put 'out of commission' before the nuclear holocaust on Judgment Day and he wakes up about 15 years before the future we see in the original Terminator films, which puts the movie at about 2015 or so. Marcus is a bad ass - think along the lines of Riddick - and what he finds is a blasted world filled with horror. Radiation poisoning, starvation, rampant jaywalking - all the things you expect post-apocalypse. There's also John Connor, who is trying to build a utopian society while running the human resistance.

Connor's role is apparently bigger in the second film; whoever they hire for Marcus (my understanding is that the part is not yet cast) will be around for all three films. Terminator 4 is going to be the most male-centric of all the Terminator films, but there is a butt busting female character by the name of Blair, a pilot for the human resistance.

They're going to need some buttkickers, because the scope of the action in Terminator 4 is HUGE. Lots of machine action in this film, including some battles with the T-600s. Yup, the rubber skin Terminators. And there's another familiar character that shows up - Reese shows up in a scene with John Connor. I don't know what his involvement in the next two films will be, though.

[muthagoose]

McG Speaks A Lot About "Terminator"

Charlie's Angels director McG recently spoke with both iF Magazine and The213.Net at the Warner Bros. Home Video 85th Anniversary celebration about the fourth installment in the "Terminator" franchise and revealed some interesting new stuff.

First off, it's current status - "[We're] prepping the picture right now. The script is largely done, whether or not we're able to prep off of it, obviously we want to continue to work on it, punch it up and we're hoping for an expedient finish to the writer's strike. But I've got my fingers crossed that in a week or two it will be over."

As for tone - "It's very much in keeping what the studio has done with Batman. We're respectful of the first pictures in creating a new language, while honoring the mythology, and I felt it would be a great time to play upon some of the [Isaac] Asimov ideas, some of the Phillip K. Dick ideas. It felt like a good time to tell a story about humanity and what it means to make us all human."

McG confirmed Christian Bale will indeed play the heroic John Connor, and hinted that Josh Brolin might be in the running to play the film's Terminator - "It's a decidedly masculine role and we live in a time, where a lot of actors are very effeminate and there's a masculine component to the role and there are guys out there like Russell Crowe and Eric Bana who bring a good physicality and do what they do, but I don't know if they're exactly right at the end of the day. Josh Brolin is a very exciting actor, so we'll see."

The action is set in 2019, post-Judgment Day, but conceded that "there are indeed some timeline issues" with respect to the continuity established by both the film and recent TV series - "We're going to what we can to respect the mythology" he says.

Finally, what about appearance by the T-800 (Arnie) or the liquid metal T-1000 from "Terminator 2" - "There will be a suggestion of the liquid metal development and a suggestion of the T-800 development. It's going to be a tip of the hat. We're undecided if there's going to be an actual appearance."

[MASON]

The Time Line issues are due to the TV show. I have posted about this before. The movie needs to pick up from where T3 left off (in that medium). If the producers of the TV show can say, "T3 does not exist for us," then the movie can ignore that show and continue with James' Cameron's version.

[Üncle Snake]

Mason ... James Cameron's "version" ended at T2. He had nothing to do with T3.

[muthagoose]

T3 sucked... and that's the bottom line.

[MASON]

Whatever MoGo. T3 was good. It followed the storyline for the most part. Judgement Day is inevitable. However, it explained that John Connor was killed. That was not cool. In the original, it briefly explained that Connor and the humans defeated Skynet. Skynet sent a Terminator back in time hoping to abort their failure. T3's storyline doesn't have a clear cut winner and Connor dies.

[muthagoose]

I am familiar with the story. The thing is... they are ignoring T3 for the show and that is just fine with me.

[Üncle Snake]

I kinda liked T3, but it's not at all in the spirt of Cameron's first two movies. The moment we hear "Judgment Day is inevitable," it completely throws out the major theme of T2, the whole "No fate but what we make for ourselves" idea, the concept of hope. My point is that T3 is just as far removed from the other movies and Cameron's vision as the TV series is from T3. So I don't think the next movies should feel an obligation to perfectly fit into the timeline created by T3 or the series.

[MASON]

I agree with Snake.

It's a shame that sequels can't always "agree" on time-line issues or continuity.

[muthagoose]

You can't win them all Mason, try as you may.

[muthagoose]

More Cast Named For
'Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins'

Sam Worthington (Avatar, Rogue) will star in Warner Bros. Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, the fourth film in the time travel franchise. The fact the Australian actor just played the lead in the James Cameron-directed "Avatar" is no coincidence. Cameron recommended Worthington to "Terminator Salvation" director McG, indicating that the director of the first two "Terminator" installments might be warming to the new pic. Read on for the entire story.

While the "Terminator Salvation" plot has twists and turns that are being kept under tight wraps, Worthington will play the role of Marcus, a central figure in a three-picture arc that begins after Skynet has destroyed much of humanity in a nuclear holocaust. A group of survivors led by John Connor (Christian Bale) struggles to keep the machines from finishing the job.

Cameron kept his distance from "Terminator 3," the first he didn't direct.

Cameron never took a public position on the Jonathan Mostow-directed "T3," which grossed more than $430 million worldwide. Speculation is his history with some of the producers could have prompted him to stay on the sidelines.

"T3" was owned by Mario Kassar and Andy Vajna, who years ago bought the rights at a Carolco bankruptcy auction out from under Cameron, prompting the director to remove himself from involvement. And the "T3" rights package included a multimillion-dollar rights buyout and exec producer credit for Gale Anne Hurd, Cameron's former partner and ex-wife. He famously signed over his "Terminator" rights for $1 to her before they made the first film, in exchange for a guarantee he wouldn't be replaced as director. It was a deal that left him on the outside looking in as everyone else cashed in on "T3."

The slate is clean after Halcyon Co. bought out all franchise rights from Kassar and Vajna and set the new film for domestic distribution at Warner Bros. for summer 2009.

Sources said McG spoke on the phone recently with Cameron, who is in New Zealand working on "Avatar." It was during that chat that he recommended Worthington, who in "Avatar" plays a paraplegic war veteran from Earth who's brought to another planet inhabited by a race of humanoids at odds with Earth's inhabitants.

[muthagoose]

"Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins"
film set for May 2009 release

The fourth movie in the "Terminator" franchise will reach North American theaters on May 22, 2009, coinciding with the U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend, distributor Warner Bros. said.

Christian Bale will star as rebel leader John Connor in "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins," which is scheduled to begin production in the spring in New Mexico.

[muthagoose]

Anton Yelchin ("Charlie Bartlett") Is Young Reese In "Terminator"

Anton Yelchin ("Charlie Bartlett") is in negotiations to star as the post-apocalyptic warrior Kyle Reese in the upcoming fourth "Terminator" feature says The Hollywood Reporter.

Yelchin will play a teen version of Reese, the character played by Michael Biehn in the 1984 original who traveled back in time to save Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) from being killed.

He ends up fathering her son John Connor who goes on to lead humanity against Skynet's machines and who sent Reese back in time on the mission in the first place.

The new film picks up with John Connor (Christian Bale), now in his 30s, fighting desperately to save a decimated civilization against machines that have taken control. Reese befriends Marcus (Sam Worthington), an early edition of the Terminator cyborg.

McG is helming the project and "Crash" writer/director Paul Haggis has been in talks about doing a polish on the script - much like he did for the Bond films "Casino Royale" and the upcoming "Quantum of Solace."

Production is scheduled to start in early May for release on May 22nd 2009. Yelchin also stars as a younger version of Walter Koening's famed Chekov role in J.J. Abrams reinvention of the "Star Trek" film franchise which opens two weeks earlier on May 8th 2009.
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[muthagoose]

New Terminator Story Details...

Terminator fans have been in a mini-uproar since the news broke yesterday that Anton Yelchin had been hired to play a teenage version of Kyle Reese opposite Christian Bale as a 30-year-old John Connor in Terminator 4. At issue is the age difference, which would make Reese more like Connor’s little brother than the best friends the franchise had previously set them up as.

Today though we’ve gotten some detailed information from one of our most reliable scoopers on just how this whole Reese/Connor thing is going to work. She’s sent us spot on stuff before, but of course since we have to keep her identity anonymous consider everything here as just rumor. But our scooper confirms that Reese won’t be some bit player in the movie. Instead, he “will be the central character in the films.” Our source compares it to Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen in the Star Wars prequels, saying “Just like the Star Wars prequels when it was the relationship between Anakin and Obi Wan that drove the three films, that's the concept for the new Terminator films when its between the relationship of Kyle and John, who is really father and son but with the moral dilemma with John knowing what has to be done in order for him to be born.”

So maybe there’s a massive age difference between John Connor and Kyle Reese, but it sounds like Reese will still be a huge part of not only this movie, but any future Terminator movies.

Those movies by the way, our source says “will also address the terminators and their evolution including the terminators of the first three films.” And somewhat surprising, there may actually be direct connections between the movie and the recently aired Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles TV series. Our source says, “they might connect the TV Series to the original three films as well but that depends if for one Fox decided to continue the series and if the people in charge want to have those plot lines cross over with this new trilogy.”

The Sarah Connor Chronicles has been great, and though there’s been no official decision on it yet, all indications are that the series will eventually get a second season. Now maybe there’s even more incentive for Fox to make that second season happen, if they can tie the TV series and the new movie together.

[muthagoose]

Moon Bloodgood Is New "Terminator" Girl

Moon Bloodgood (TV's "Journeyman") is in final negotiations to play the female lead in McG's "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins" says The Hollywood Reporter.

Bloodgood will play a no-nonsense and battle-hardened member of the resistance alongside Christian Bale, Sam Worthington and Anton Yelchin in the fourth installment of the sci-fi series.

Despite recent reports of delays, principal photography is still set to begin May 5th for release next Summer.

[muthagoose]

Bale Set For Three Terminators

It comes as no surprise, but it has been confirmed now that Christian Bale is locked in to play John Connor in the next three "Terminator" movies says The BBC.

Derek Anderson, a rep for the film's production company Halycon, says "he read the script and he loved it, so he's signed on for all three".

Aussie actor Sam Worthington plays the lead role in this new film series and shooting is currently underway. A May 22nd 2009 release is planned.

[muthagoose]

McG Denies "Terminator" Spoilers

Director McG has updated his official blog for the sci-fi action-thriller "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins" and has denied the ending spoilers that have spread like wildfire online this week. Here's a full copy of his post:

"We're in the middle of week five. The New Mexico wind is kicking the shit out of the crew but providing a perfect backdrop for our post-apocalyptic world. Sam tore a muscle on the left side of his ribs in a fight sequence. Neither of us wants to use a stunt double.

This movie takes place several years after Judgment Day, but prior to 2029. Just like it took a long time to get an HD plasma screen in our world, it took Skynet a lot of research and development to get to the T-800, and this movie explores that "space between." We have all been fascinated with the world after Judgment Day. Here it is.

In this film, there are Hydrobots that patrol the water, Transports that move human prisoners around, Harvesters that collect human beings as lab rats for Skynet and Aerostats that survey all that is going on with the resistance the world over.

We've started shooting the T-600 - the bigger, grimier, nastier version that preceded the T-800. Like Reese says, they're easier to spot but they pack a mini gun and carry kick ass fire power. They're eight-foot tall killers that prowl the badlands looking for anything with a heartbeat to terminate.

Stan Winston, Production Designer Martin Laing and ILM came up with the designs and that thing is on Kyle Reese's ass throughout the entire picture. Wanted to achieve that bummer, rubbery skin, prosthetic look that cloaks an unrelenting machine with a singular focus of killing. More to come...

Also, I realize my name is ridiculous. I was born Joseph McGinty Nichol. McG is short for McGinty. I have been called this since the day I was born to create separation from my Uncle Joe and Grandpa Joe. I realize it sounds like some Hollywood nickname, hip-hop choice. But the truth is, this is simply my name - for every day of elementary school, every zit-filled day of high school. I have been taking shit for it ever since. I get it, I would think it's lame too. But it's just a name, and to change it now would seem fraudulent.

Oh yeah, don't get too uptight about the prospect of the film being PG-13. We have entertained the idea of a PG-13 rating largely because Batman Begins, in my opinion, was made compromise-free. So we'll see. The movie comes first and it will be protected at all times...

By the way, there are only three people who know the ending. The unknown future rolls toward us."
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