James Cameron to “godfather” new Terminator film

When Terminator Genisys was released in the summer of 2015, it came prefaced with a strange piece of marketing. Despite mixed reviews, the film did get the thumbs up from James Cameron, creator and director of The Terminator, who praised the film so much that the studio behind the fifth film got Cameron to appear in an “approval” video about just how good it was.

It was a peculiar thing for sure, but it seems to have stirred the writer/director as surprising news this weekend from Deadline suggests that Cameron is to return to the franchise and oversee a new film that would conclude the series. No word yet on whether the film will be a sequel to Genisys, be closer in terms of timeframe with Cameron’s original duo of films or will be something original.

What does seem clear is that David Ellison and Skydance (producers of Genisys) are involved and are “bankrolling” the project that will be “an exploratory effort that includes engaging some top-flight science fiction authors to find the movie creatively.” And in what is reportedly their first step towards a new film is teaming Cameron with Deadpool director Tim Miller, who is in early talks to helm the project when it comes to fruition. No word on whether Arnold Schwarzenegger will be involved in the new film.

The question remains as to whether audiences are still interested in the franchise given the lacklustre responses to both Genisys and 2009’s Terminator Salvation, which starred Christian Bale and Sam Worthington. But if anything can get people interested in the killer cyborg series again its the involvement of Cameron in proceedings, and if he and Miller can give it a shot to the arm and the perfect send-off (and a fitting ending for Schwarzenegger too) then colour us intrigued.