Check out
Entertainment Headlines at Yahoo!
Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed to reprise his role as the cyborg in
"Terminator 3," scheduled for a spring 2001 start in Los Angeles for a summer
2002 release.
Sources close to James Cameron, the writer/director of the first two
"Terminator" films, said he is talking with Schwarzenegger about returning to
the fold, but that he is currently not attached to the project.
The third installment of the blockbuster "Terminator" franchise will be produced
by Mario Kassar and Andy Vajna through their C-2 Pictures banner. No domestic distribution
is in place.
Last fall, the duo baptized C-2 banner by formalizing plans to develop the third and
fourth installments of the "Terminator" film series simultaneously.
The producers said they planned to make the films with or without Schwarzenegger, who
starred in the first two installments, and despite the fact that Cameron previously stated
he had no intention of revisiting the property, which he created with Gale Ann Hurd.
C-2 has always said it would move forward on "T3" by spring 2001 whether the
film had a domestic distributor in place. However, no Schwarzenegger film has had to troll
for domestic distribution since the days of "Pumping Iron," so it seems highly
unlikely that a studio will be able to resist.
But which studio? Cameron created the franchise, co-writing and directing "The
Terminator" (1984) and "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" (1991). Sources close
to Cameron say that the only way he will direct "T3" is if Fox handles the film,
thanks to the bonding experience they shared during "Titanic."
Cameron and Schwarzenegger were interested in reteaming on a third film at Fox until
Kassar and Vajna swooped in to pay $8 million for the underlying rights of the
"Terminator" franchise in the 1997 Carolco Pictures bankruptcy auction.
The move came as a blow to Cameron; sources close to the director said he had created a
very clear vision for "T3" and was planning to make it his next picture but
would not do the film as long as Vajna and Kassar controlled the property.
Vajna and Kassar nearly closed a deal to sell the "Terminator" rights to 20th
Century Fox in early 1999, but Fox fell out of "T3" because C-2 brought in
co-financiers Japan's Toho-Towa (and later, Germany's VCL) to partner, thereby diluting
the value of any deal.
Now that Schwarzenegger has embraced "T3" and is wooing Cameron, it seems
conceivable that Fox might sign up for another go. Cameron is planning to produce
"True Lies 2" at Fox, again with Schwarzenegger in the lead.
Still, Fox would have to swallow some tough "T3" terms: Toho-Towa and VCL are
equity partners in the property, each slated to receive a 25% slice of worldwide revenues
from all future "Terminator" product as well as all distribution rights for
Japan and German-speaking territories, respectively.
Given the performance of the two previous "Terminator" titles, however, there
could be enough coin to make everybody happy. C-2 also expects to broaden the franchise
with deals involving Internet and interactive companies.
The back-to-back production plan for "T3" and "T4" has been adjusted
somewhat. While "Tank Girl" scribe Tedi Sarafian's "T3" script is
ready to go, "T4" is still in development and being written by David Wilson
(MGM's "Rollerball" remake).
"We've been working long and hard to bring 'Terminator' back to the screen and to
have Arnold aboard," Vajna and Kassar said in a statement. "This project
reunites a team that has had fantastic success, and we look forward to working together
again on this much anticipated project."
"My big wish is that Jim Cameron and I will work together again (on T3),"
Schwarzenegger said.
SOME INTERESTING COMMENTS:
| From: |
Danny Ocean |
| Subject: |
Why is Cameron not on this? |
| Comment: |
Unless Kassar and Vajna are complete idiots that will get Cameron involved not only
directing wise, but with the script as well. I'm more concerned that Cameron will be on
this film, rather than Arnold. I have no idea why Cameron doesn't want to direct the film.
I think the Terminator films are much better than True Lies. I really didn't like True
Lies at all and I never understood why so many people liked it. I thought the ending with
the plane was absolutely ridiculous. In fact I thought the entire ending was terrible.
Cameron screw True Lies and make more Terminator films. I'm begging you!!!! |
| From: |
Private Ryan |
| Subject: |
T3 |
| Comment: |
I'm glad Schwartzenger is on board. They shouldn't do it without him. But they also
should not do it without Cameron...this one doesn't sound all that exciting to me. |
| From: |
Blood Klot |
| Subject: |
Tank Girl ???!!! |
| Comment: |
The script is being written by the same hack who brought us Tank Girl?! ::shudders::.
And without Cameron at the helm I cant see how this going to be anything other than a
piece of shit. |
| From: |
Bari
Umenema |
| Subject: |
This could actually turn out to be Good |
| Comment: |
But if Cameron opts to sit on the sidelines look for Peter Hyams to Direct -- that's
right sports fans, for it was Cameron who suggested to Arnold that Hyams be brought in to
do End of Days after Marcus Nispel flaked out. Don't knock Hyams -- he has the f/x knowhow
to do a good job on this; not as good as Cameron would do but adequate to the task at
hand, and remember: you read it here first buckos. Touche Boys Touche!!! |
| From: |
C.Butler |
| Subject: |
Summer of 2002? T3 Will Be Competing Against Star Wars
Episode II |
| Comment: |
Another incentive for Lucas to make "Episode II" better. I still say it's a
mistake to make "T3". The entire story concerning the war and the creation of
the Terminator'was resolved at the end of "T2", one of the greatest films ever
made. I'll be really angry if this film doesn't at least measure up to "Judgement
Day", but it's like someone wrote in a post on another board: "this film is only
being made not for artistic purposes, but because the producers want to make more
money", and I couldn't agree more with that statement. |
| From: |
DrZarkov |
| Subject: |
what about t4 |
| Comment: |
I thought that the purchase of the Terminator franchise was for them to make T3 and T4
back to back. What is happening about T4? Will we see Conner as an adult? |
| From: |
Danny Ocean |
| Subject: |
Why is Cameron not on this? |
| Comment: |
Unless Kassar and Vajna are complete idiots that will get Cameron involved not only
directing wise, but with the script as well. I'm more concerned that Cameron will be on
this film, rather than Arnold. I have no idea why Cameron doesn't want to direct the film.
I think the Terminator films are much better than True Lies. I really didn't like True
Lies at all and I never understood why so many people liked it. I thought the ending with
the plane was absolutely ridiculous. In fact I thought the entire ending was terrible.
Cameron screw True Lies and make more Terminator films. I'm begging you!!!! |
| From: |
Steve_The_Hutt |
| Subject: |
The fate of the future hangs in the balance ... |
| Comment: |
Another Terminator movie featuring Ahh-nold could mean anything. It could mean some
cheezy P.O.S. like Alien 3 or Robocop 3 and the last dying twitch of an old washed-up
legend ... or it could mean the return of Arnold "Ah'll be bahhk"
Schwartzenegger we all knew and loved in the 80's, accompanied by a cool story and awesome
effects. I do hope and pray that they will do the story set in the future, the story of
John Conner and how they were able to send back the protectors, because anything extending
the storyline from the second movie would be ludicrous and contrived. |
| From: |
Blok Narpin |
| Subject: |
Leno SUCKS!! |
| Comment: |
Letterman used that "Owch, My back" joke in a tope ten list Years ago. The
List was "The Top Ten ways you know that Arnold is getting older". One of them
was in his next movie the line "I'll be back" will be replaced with "Owch,
My back". Good going, Leno. Bend Dave over and F**K him! You big jawed bastard!
ANYwho on to T3. This movie MUST be made to clear up the BIG BIG plot hole in T2. Ive
always said that if they make a T3 then T2 is a good movie, but if they leave it at 2,
then 2 sucks. The reason is simple. AT the End of T2 they indicate that they have
succeeded and that Skynet will NOT come into existance. WRONG!! They FAILED in T2 and
Skynet WILL come into existence. Why? Easy. If they had succeeded then John Connor would
have been erased from existance. No Skynet means that no Terminator would have come back
to kill Sarah in T1, and that means Johns father wouldnt have come back to protect her and
that means he wouldnt have impregnated her with John. If they had truly prevented Skynet
John would have faded into nothingness just like Marty almost did in Back to the Future
when he botched up his parents first date. Therefore there MUST be a T3. If this film is
truely to take place in the future with an adult John leading the war as I have heard then
Arnold isnt even needed. It stands to reason that his model Terminator unit is long since
outdated, (heck it was outdated in 2!! Thats why there was Robert Patrick!) If Arnold
wants to do it then great but they really dont need him. |
|
