The latest statements about the future of the Terminator franchise from James Cameron may be the best indicator yet that the filmmaker finally grasps why the franchise has struggled for so long. Although there have been other spin-offs, such as the animated series Terminator Zero on Netflix, that have demonstrated a clear creative vision, even within the realm of killer robots and dark futures, the live-action series of films has simply been living in a retroactive loop of nostalgia and diminishing returns.
Cameron’s statement that his next Terminator film will not include Arnold Schwarzenegger at all is less an attempt to move away from the past and more like a necessary correction.
James Cameron ditches Arnold Schwarzenegger for a fresh take on the franchise
For many years, it has been impossible to think of the Terminator franchise without the presence of Schwarzenegger’s T-800. Even those films that seemingly branch off in a different direction, such as Terminator Salvation, remained tied to his legacy. It appears that Cameron is finally ready to sever that connection for good.
He has stated that it is part of his effort to introduce a new set of characters and concepts, observing that Terminator: Dark Fate was intended as a fitting goodbye to Schwarzenegger’s classic character. Instead of doing this a second time, Cameron is looking to redefine the mythology of Terminator.
This is a necessary change. Although The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day are still groundbreaking films, their notion of technology and artificial intelligence is more in line with a bygone era. The sequels that followed were simply attempts to recapture this lightning in a bottle, and while familiar faces were an easy way to do this, this alone was not enough.
In the end, Dark Fate’s lack of success at the box office highlights how challenging it has become to please both old and new fans.
Taking Schwarzenegger out of the equation means that the series has to rely on new storytelling instead of goodwill. This is also more in line with the modern world, where fears regarding AI and automation are no longer fictional concepts but, instead, a reality of the world. Cameron has hinted at a focus on a concept of superintelligence and time conflict that might give the franchise a much-needed boost.
It remains unclear what else is up in the air regarding this project, such as whether Cameron will be helming the film himself or simply steering the ship as a producer and screenwriter. But the intention here is certainly a good thing. A proper reboot, rather than another soft reboot, gives the franchise an opportunity to move forward and stop looking back on its own history. If Cameron can harness the enthusiasm, Terminator could finally move out of the shadow of its former success and into a brighter future.
