Next 'Terminator' Film To Reboot A New Trilogy Beginning In 2015

With four Terminator movies and a short-lived TV series already out there, each of varying quality and with mind-boggling amounts of time travel craziness, the next film would have had a lot to draw from. The challenge for producers was finding a way to deal with the different continuities and the general dislike of Terminator Salvation. It turns out the simplest answer is the one Paramount, Annapurna Pictures, and Skydance Productions have decided to go with, announcing today that the next film will be a complete franchise reboot, kicking off on July 26th 2015.

The press release refers to the film as simply Terminator, and also reveals that it will be the beginning of a brand new "stand alone trilogy", giving the impression that there will be absolutely no connection to the world James Cameron began in 1984. The rights revert to Cameron fully in 2019, which is why their under the gun to get these done now. Arnold Schwarzenegger has already confirmed he's coming back as the Terminator, and this reboot should make it more palatable to see him as the indestructible robot again. Or, maybe that rumored 1950s-set storyline involving Dwayne Johnson has some validity, after all? It certainly sounded like the plan for a complete starting over of the franchise rather than a continuation.

Add another blockbuster film to a jam-packed 2015 in which every major tentpole will be represented in some way. Probably not the best environment to try and launch a new franchise, but there's no time to sit around and wait. A director still needs to be locked in before the expected early 2014 start date.