Terminator 4 Updates
According to James Middleton, consulting producer for Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Terminator 4 is moving forward after all. Apparently, the film will not be called "Terminator 4", but will instead be titled "Terminator: ____________" with no numbering. T3: Rise of the Machines scribes Michael Ferris and John D. Brancato are busy penning a new script, and The Halcyon Company hopes to have the film in pre-production by October for a 2009 release. Yes, another Pre-Strike movie.
The fourth film will be the first in a trilogy and will feature John Connor and Kate Brewster in a post-apocalyptic future. But Middleton says that the main hero will be someone new completely: "Ben-Hur was influenced by Jesus Christ, but it was his story. Much in that way, this character will be influenced by John Connor." Whatever that means.
Middleton also says that a director is not yet attached to the project, but they are close. Because of this, no casting has taken place, despite recent rumors that Rachel Weisz and Chloe Sevigny have recently inquired about the lead Terminator role, and that a "high profile hunk" had already been cast as the male lead.
Rise of the Machines was not a great movie, and many were angry that the storyline negated the climax developments of the previous films. But a war between the humans and the machines really excited me. Despite my rather snarky and negative musings, I have yet to become pessimistic about Hollywood sequels (even though extensive evidence against my optimism). And this next trilogy could offer us a look at this new war, and a new epic sci-fi war film. OR it could just be another crappy sci-fi sequel.