T4: Will Arnie & Jim Buy the Rights?
Terminator Rights Expiring in Near Future!

Reported By: ABking
Friday, April 13, 2007

When fans mention TERMINATOR 4, what they expect is "the future wars" movie. But more importantly, what the fans need is for Arnold Schwarzenegger and great filmmaker partner James Cameron to return to that universe one last time...together and make that "future war movie." That would make fanboys rush to see the film over and over again!

When TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES was released back in July of 2003, Arnie revealed in an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly magazine that he wanted to buy the Terminator rights with Cameron. At some point in 2001, the Terminator rights were up for auction and the Governor wanted to own his film legacy, so he proposed to buy half the franchise rights and for Jim to buy the other half.

But producers Mario Kassar and Andrew Vajna pulled a fast one and snatched up the rights before Arnie and Jim could. It pissed the oak off big time, but he eventually had to make the film so his fans could be satisfied. Arnie tried persuading Cameron numerous times to direct, but Jim just couldn't find it in himself to commit to the mega budget sequel.

Word has it that Jonathan Mostow is still attached to make T4, but strangely enough, the project seems to be going nowhere fast. Finance backers for T4 (MGM and C2) need to have a box-office insurance for the film and seem to be either holding out or are being forced to hold out for Arnie to finish his second term as governor and then to star. But by 2010, the Terminator rights could expire and would be able to go up for auction again.

If that were to happen, I'm sure Arnie would grab at the chance to own his own billion dollar franchise and call all the shots. That would also mean he could give the series back to James Cameron so he can write and direct at least one or two more. Fans can finally see these two friends re-unite and make the future war film in epic Cameron glory.

The above is all fan boy dreaming of mine of course --in all likeliness, Mostow will return at the helm of T4 and Arnold will make an extended appearance in the 'war movie'!

Still, things like 'movie rights issues' happen a lot in Hollywood (see THE LORD OF THE RINGS ala THE HOBBIT) and the TERMINATOR property could very well end back up in the hands of Schwarzenegger or Cameron!

The Future is not set...

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ABking