James Cameron set his sights on making new Terminator trilogy

With all of the franchises out in the Hollywood ether these days, it’s perhaps no surprise that sci-fi actioner series Terminator is getting a refresh. Or maybe it is if you judge the quality of the last two entries, Salvation and Genisys, both of which were supposed to springboard a new era for the franchise.

But this time the films may be in better hands, with news that creator James Cameron is back on board with the franchise, and in a recent chat with News Australia as the new 3D version of Terminator 2: Judgment Day approaches, the filmmaker says he has spoken to the current rights holders about where they can take the next film and that they have discussed a new trilogy.

Cameron said:

“I am in discussions with [producer] David Ellison, who is the current rights holder globally for the ‘Terminator’ franchise and the rights in the US market revert to me under US copyright law in a year and a half so he and I are talking about what we can do. Right now we are leaning toward doing a three-film arc and reinventing it.”

While Cameron is busy with the Avatar sequels, he would take more of a producer/godfather role in the new films with Deadpool helmer Tim Miller set to direct the first of the new films.

It seems somewhat strange that the Titanic director was keen to return after he previously “backed” the most recent films but Cameron says he only stood by the films for his pal, Arnold Schwarzenegger, adding:

“I think it’s fairly widely known that I don’t have a lot of respect for the films that were made later,” Cameron stated. “I was supportive at the time in each case for Arnold’s sake because he is a close friend. He has been a mate of mine since 33 years ago so I was always supportive and never too negative. But they didn’t work for me for various reasons.”

No word on a release date for the new Terminator film, but early guesses suggest a 2019 release.