James Cameron Plans to Reinvent 'Terminator' Franchise With New Trilogy

Considering the overall disappointing reception of Terminator: Genisys, in both critical reactions and box office numbers, it's clear that the seminal sci-fi action franchise could use a creative jumpstart. Franchise creator James Cameron will regain the rights to the property within the next two years, with the director already being quite vocal about the directions he wanted to take the series, even hinting that he wants Deadpool's Tim Miller to helm the next installment. When speaking with News.com.au, Cameron detailed further what he hopes to do with the franchise.

Cameron revealed, "I am in discussions with David Ellison, who is the current rights holder globally for the Terminator franchise and the rights in the U.S. 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." He added, "We'll put more meat on the bones if we get past the next couple of hurdles as and when we announce that."

"The question is — has the franchise run its course or can it be freshened up?" confessed Cameron about some of his science fiction now being a reality. "Can it still have relevance now where so much of our world is catching up to what was science fiction in the first two films. We live in a world of predator drones and surveillance and big data and emergent AI (artificial intelligence)."

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The filmmaker was only involved with the first two films before exiting the saga with Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Terminator Salvation and Terminator Genisys failed to make a lasting mark with audiences, nor with Cameron himself.

"I think it's fairly widely known that I don't have a lot of respect for the films that were made later," confessed Cameron. "I was supportive at the time in each case for Arnold's [Schwarzenegger] 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."

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Although the timeline for when this series of films could come out is quite a ways in the distance, the mere fact that Cameron is currently talking with the rights holder bodes well for a partnership down the line.

Considering the heated debates that arise over various superhero properties, like FOX's ownership over the X-Men precluding Marvel Studios from using mutants in their films, the open negotiations sound promising.

Photo Credit: Getty / Frazer Harrison