TheTerminatorfranchise has had a difficult time building a sustainable brand, butone more film in the series directed by the greatest science-fiction director of all time could be the perfect way to end it.While there are several differentviewing orders forTerminatormovies, the films are all interconnected and deserve a strong sendoff.
Featuring differentmodels and machines across theTerminatorstories,the franchise has focused on time-traveling robots sent back from the future to change their fate.While the first two films are celebrated as some of the greatest science fiction films of all time, the reputation changed, beginning with the release ofTerminator 3: Rise of the Machines.
That film wasn’t bad, but it was certainly a step down from the acclaim of the first two installments. A semi-reboot followed in the future war setting ofTerminator Salvation, beforeTerminator: GenisysandTerminator: Dark Fateattempted to reinvigorate the story with fresh twists of their own. Unfortunately, these failed to connect, leaving the franchise in a delicate place.
Terminator 7 Should End The Franchise
The Series Deserves A Proper Ending
Not every story can go on forever, and it would make sense if the nextTerminatormovie ended the series.The story of Sarah Connor, John Connor, and their fight against Skynet has been an incredible and exciting tale,but thescript announcement forTerminator 7has highlighted how much things have changed in the world.
As it stands,artificial intelligence is such a prevalent theme in the world,and that potentially dangerous technology needs to be explored through a different lens. Despite its dangers, AI has already infiltrated all aspects of daily life, and casting it as an ominous, destructive, and mysterious threat, such as Skynet, may feel too direct in its approach.
TheTerminatorfranchise has tried to reinvent itself over the years.Genisystook the Sarah Connor story, but changed it with another layer of time travel,andDark Fate’s robotsreplaced Skynet with Legion, asserting that technology taking over the world was an inevitability. Still, both were hampered by baggage from the films that came before.
The idea of Terminators being terrifying figures sent from the future for nefarious purposes is rife with possibility in this contemporary climate, butthere may be no more room for the heroic myth of John Connor. That story has been done several times in films, as well as in the excellent seriesTerminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
TheTerminatorseries, as it stands, is nearly at an end, butit would make sense for one more film to tie the stories together.Whether or not Linda Hamilton or any previous stars return to their roles, giving it a proper and distinct ending to its current story would be a great way to close off the franchise.
Only James Cameron Can Give Terminator A Proper Ending
The Greatest Director Of Our Time Started The Series And Could End It
James Cameron began theTerminatorfranchise with the first film and directedTerminator 2: Judgement Day, which is arguably one of thebest movie sequels of all time.Cameron has regained the rights to the seriesand is currently working on a script for a seventhTerminatorfilm.
ATerminatorsequel will be hard to justify at this time.Dark Fategrossed only $261 million against a production budget of $185-196 million.With marketing and exhibitor costs factored in, the film lost the studio more than $122 million. Even withCameron’s box officereputation, it is hard to justify making another sequel.
Still, Cameron is a skilled hand and only works on the projects that he feels most passionate about.Titanic’s box officewas a surprise to many, and the director even had to forego much of his salary to get the film made.
With how instrumental Cameron has been in Hollywood, he would certainly have the clout to get this film made if he chose to direct. However,the director already has so much on his platethat it is difficult to figure out when he might be able to make anotherTerminatorfilm.
Cameron has kept busy with theAvatarsequels, butAvatar: Fire and Ashis close to release, andthe director may wish to do something else before returning toAvatar 4and5.He is signed on for a movie adaptation ofThe Devils, and has spoken about makingLast Train from Hiroshima.
Avatar 4and5are currently scheduled for release in Christmas 2029 and 2031, respectively. However, each of theAvatarfilms has been delayed multiple times, and there is reason to expect these movies might also be pushed back.
Cameron is very busy and is a perfectionist with his films,which has resulted in long gaps between releases.He is writing the script forTerminator 7, and it would be perfect if he could come back to direct the film.
Not every series can last forever, butTerminatordeserves a strong goodbye. The series has introduced so many exciting concepts and characters to the pop culture canon, andleaving the series withDark Fatefeels unfair.Having Cameron come back to make one more film would be the perfect way to end it.
