Arnold Schwarzenegger, the face of the Terminator franchise, has decided to hang up his boots. In a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Schwarzenegger confirmed his exit from the series.
“The franchise is not over. However, my journey with it certainly is. It became clear that the audience is seeking a fresh perspective on The Terminator,” said Schwarzenegger. “The task now is for someone to bring a compelling new idea to the table. The Terminator played an instrumental role in my rise to success, and for that reason, it will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Reflecting on Past Glories and Missed Opportunities
Schwarzenegger fondly recalled the first three films as being the high point of the franchise. “The initial trilogy was remarkable,” he added. “I wasn’t part of the fourth instalment, Salvation, due to my political commitments as governor. The subsequent films, Genisys and Dark Fate, unfortunately, fell short of expectations. The writing on the wall was clear from the beginning, given their subpar scripts.”
Jonathan Mostow directed Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines after original director James Cameron left the project. The film managed to accrue over $400 million at the global box office, providing the green light for Hollywood to extend the franchise. Schwarzenegger made a comeback in Terminator: Genisys, which also turned out to be profitable.
However, Tim Miller’s Terminator: Dark Fate decided to sideline the events of the third, fourth, and fifth films, attempting to serve as a direct sequel to Terminator 2. This decision led to the franchise’s decline.
The Unfortunate Downfall of the Franchise
Despite the return of Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton, the sixth film of the series, Dark Fate, incurred a loss of over $122.6 million at the box office. This massive setback put a full stop to any prospective plans for future Terminator films.
James Cameron, in conversation on the SmartLess podcast hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, opened up about the future of the franchise. “If I were to take up the mantle of another ‘Terminator’ film and possibly attempt to revive the franchise, which is currently under consideration but far from finalized, I would focus more on the aspect of artificial intelligence rather than rogue robots,” Cameron disclosed.
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