[RunLoganRun]

http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/za...,4631706.story

The summer of 2009 is already so full that "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins" has staked a claim to a weekend already occupied by a second presumptive blockbuster.

According to Variety, Warner Bros has positioned the McG-directed fourth "Terminator" film on May 22, 2009. That date, though, had already been staked out by 20th Century Fox's "Night at the Museum II: Escape From the Smithsonian."

Will one of the studios blink or will that May weekend have room for both a high concept comedy and a thriller about killer robots? Perhaps.

Production on "Terminator Salvation" begins this spring in New Mexico with Christian Bale playing John Connor, last hope of humanity against those unfriendly robots.

Scripted by John Brancato and Michael Ferris, the first part of a new proposed "Terminator" trilogy will also include Sam Worthington. Sony will handle international distribution on the project.

[LPU]

Christian Bale as John Connor had me crazy excited. Crazy excited until I heard that John Connor wouldn't be the main character. WTF?

[aRooZa]

Originally Posted by Locke Push-Ups

Christian Bale as John Connor had me crazy excited. Crazy excited until I heard that John Connor wouldn't be the main character.

Uhm... What?!

[LPU]

That was pretty much my reaction too, Roo. I think it was in a back issue of EW, but I can't remember.

[aRooZa]

And another news we didn't need...

'Terminator' guns for kid-friendly rating
Halcyon aims to deliver PG-13 movie
By ANNE THOMPSON

The "Terminator" will indeed be back -- but this time with a more kid-friendly rating.

As production starts today on "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins," the next installment in the action franchise, producers at the Halcyon Co. say they aim to deliver a PG-13 movie to Warner Bros. for release on May 22, 2009.

The "Terminator" series is one of the highest-grossing R-rated franchises of all time, with the first three films having grossed more than $1.03 billion worldwide. But Halcyon producers thought it was time to broaden the upcoming fourth film's audience base, and they believe the PG-13 won't compromise the series' gritty vision.

"The ratings have changed," said Halcyon co-founder and co-CEO Victor Kubicek, a broker-turned-writer-producer. "The PG-13 has increased in intensity."

Move follows last year's "Die Hard" film, "Live Free or Die Hard," which went out with a PG-13 after three prior R-rated installments. That pic went on to gross $382.1 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing in the series.

A family-friendly rating opens many doors, including a "Terminator Salvation" licensing deal for action figures with Playmates Toys.

"Our merchandising program will be the largest to date for 'The Terminator,' " said Halcyon co-founder and co-CEO Derek Anderson, ex-owner of ad agency In the Mix, who adds that he had not discussed the possibility of an R-rating with Warners. "We won't force it. We are carrying on in the tradition of the mythology, with an exciting approach to the action. If we can make a compelling film to reach the widest audience, why wouldn't we do it?"

Halcyon has already launched Halcyon Games to create a "Terminator" game for release at the same time as the movie. "The first three games were all bad," Anderson said. "The core fans are screaming for something fresh; they won't be just playing the movie."

Anderson and Kubicek founded the Halcyon Co. in 2006 with funding from Wall Street hedge funds and private investors. They scooped up rights to the "Terminator" franchise from Carolco's Andy Vajna and Mario Kassar for an undisclosed sum as that company was closing down in May 2007.

Warners acquired rights to domestic theatrical and TV distribution on "Terminator: Salvation," while Sony obtained international distrib rights, less some territories. Halcyon brought in Moritz Borman to exec produce and hired "Terminator 3" scripters John D. Brancato and Michael Ferris to script. Paul Haggis did a polish. McG directs.

Set in post-apocalyptic 2029, an adult John Connor, played by Christian Bale, leads the war to save humanity from the killing machines.

Signing Bale, who also stars in the current "Batman" series, was a huge coup. Sam Worthington, who fronts franchise creator James Cameron's upcoming "Avatar," also stars. The Terminator role is still under wraps; speculation centers on Josh Brolin.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryid=13&cs=1

and

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/36618

[LostEmissary]

Originally Posted by Locke Push-Ups

Christian Bale as John Connor had me crazy excited. Crazy excited until I heard that John Connor wouldn't be the main character. WTF?

It's very likely that could have changed since then. In fact, that might have been the plan until they were able to nab Bale is John Connor. They may very well re-focus the script after that.

As for the PG-13 rating... I actually don't really mind that. Maybe you lose out on a very small amount of violence or language. That wasn't what made T-2 fun at the time it came out. T-3 was a different kind of movie, but again, there was nothing in that movie to me that stuck out as really being necessary to make it an R movie. In fact, if you asked me what the rating of T-3 was, I would have guessed PG-13.

To me, it's not one of those series that relied on the "R" rating. I can live without seeing some boobs or hearing a few F words. I'm a lot more concerned with it having a good storyline. Then they can just release a directors cut on blu-ray, which is probably where I'll see the movie anyway.

[truffula]

Warner Bros. released a "start of production" press release today.

It is a short plot synopsis - kinda like what you'd read in tv guide if it were made for tv. But if you aren't into reading that kind of stuff, I reccommend you skip this next part.

**MILD SPOILER WARNING**

In the highly anticipated new installment of The Terminator film franchise, set in post-apocalyptic 2018, Christian Bale stars as John Connor, the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. But the future Connor was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet's operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind.

And on top of that, it appears that Christian Bale has signed on for 2 other new Terminator movies after this one (obviously, this first new one has to do good before they're sure about the other 2, but they're in the works.)

SOURCE

I dunno about all this....but I think I'll reserve judgement until I see some footage.

[aRooZa]

Anton Yelchin as Kyle Reese?! If they keep messing things up like that I'm not gonna watch this one..

[Doc Manhattan]

I'm going to stick to the television as my choice Terminator mythology. Alternate reality or not, at least it has A Sarah Connnor in it (and one that plays her well too)

[Cranky]

Why won't The Terminator die!?

The third installment was a stretch, but it capped off everything as a trilogy nicely. Now a fourth one...a quadrility? Sheesh. Three is the magic number, Hollywood.