Although James Cameron has been hands-on with the Avatar franchise, he hasn’t denounced the prospect of reviving the Terminator series, which has been sitting dormant following the underwhelming reception to Dark Fate. But with Avatar: Fire and Ash approaching its release, the director is set to venture into other potential projects, including the sci-fi IP (via Gizmodo).
I’ll have some time to write and to consider my next projects and the order in which I do them and so on once we’re done with the marketing on this in a month or so. I’ve got a stack of notes this thick [holds fingers about three inches apart], which is how I start all my scripts, on what I want to do with a new Terminator film. I’m going to pour myself into that as a writer.
This isn’t to say we’ll be witnessing a new Terminator movie anytime soon, as in the current climate, Cameron remains unsure about how to approach the story.
Below are the movies that Cameron helmed in the franchise:
| Movies | Rotten Tomatoes | IMDb | Box Office |
| The Terminator | 100% | 8.1 | $78.3M |
| Terminator 2: Judgement Day | 91% | 8.6 | $517.7M |
James Cameron’s Next Terminator Movie is Still Years Away
A few months ago, the Avatar director expressed that he was still struggling to get started on the next Terminator movie, which he definitely intends to make. Part of the struggle has been the increasingly dystopian-esque reality we’re living in, where concepts like Skynet or even The Handmaid’s Tale no longer feel that distant.
Cameron acknowledged this obstacle and highlighted the contrast between the world as it was when he first penned The Terminator and the present. As for his intentions for a brand new entry in the series, the director, at the very least, wants it to be future-proof by a few years.
Science fiction has caught up and is actually overwhelming us at this point. We’re living in a science fiction world, and we’re literally having to deal with problems that in the past only existed in science fiction books and movies. Now we’re living it for real. I’ll never be as prescient as I was back in 1984 of imagining this one because I don’t think anybody knows what’s going to be happening a year or two years from now. But I at least want to future-proof myself by being a couple years out
Considering he also has other major projects to tend to post Fire and Ash, and coupling this with the challenge of penning a story that doesn’t get outdone by our reality, it might be a while before the cyborgs return onscreen.
Don’t Expect Arnold Schwarzenegger to Return as T-800
Amid the uncertainty surrounding the next franchise entry, one thing that remains concrete is Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s departure, as he won’t be reprising the role of T-800 in Cameron’s next Terminator movie.
A few years ago, the Predator star announced his retirement from the franchise, but clarified this wasn’t the end for the beloved sci-fi series, adding that someone needs to come up with a great idea to continue the story forward (via THR).
The franchise is not done. I’m done. I got the message loud and clear that the world wants to move on with a different theme when it comes to The Terminator. Someone has to come up with a great idea.
As for what lies ahead for the franchise, only time will tell, as Cameron himself is still on the fence about how to expand the narrative.
Share your thoughts on Cameron’s comments below!
The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgement Day are available to rent on Apple TV (USA).
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