T4 Starts Production Today: To Be Rated PG-13!
A PG-13 Terminator Film: Do we Care?

Reported By:TheArnoldFans Staff
Tuesday, May 6, 2008

The Halcyon Co, owners of the future Terminator film rights, are said to be starting production TODAY on T4 but how do we all feel about it being rated PG-13? Producers at the Halcyon Co. say they aim to deliver a PG-13 movie to Warner Bros. for release on May 22, 2009.

From Variety:

"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."
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.

Let's face it, Halcyon is right with how PG-13 movies today can be as intense as many R-rated films of yesterday. T2 and T3 would have both been rated PG-13 in today's rating system. What's the worst thing in T2? The step-parents in the kitchen with the stabbed milk, right? Yes, so the only reason it got it's R rating is for the profanity. And T3 was always meant to be PG-13 from the beginning and would have received that rating it it wasn't for Mostow listening to TAFs who insisted on the R rating. It's still a PG-13 film with a deceptive false R rating in it's place for a couple f-words.

Just because it's a PG-13 film does not mean it will be dumbed down and child-friendly. If T4 is anywhere near as intense, serious and dark as "Batman Begins" (another Christian Bale film), then T4 can still be great. T4 will still get us some blood and guts but will not have more than one cuss word. Perhaps that's the worst case scenario of this PG-13 rating. But please Halcyon, WB, and McG, keep this film dark and eerie like the Dark Knight films. That will be the best of both worlds. You'll widen your audience for younger fans and will please the original older fans.

This rating 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-CEODerek 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?"

All we ask is that the writers' and director's vision be translated to screen accurately and the rating should not be dictated by the marketing department. Die Hard 4 did extremely well, but what if it had been PG-13 plus not had Bruce Willis in it? It would've been just another forgettable action flick. No Arnold plus no R rating could be the last straw for some fans of the franchise.

Terminator fan T900 writes TAFs in hopes to keep T4 at an R rating. TheArnoldFans prefers that T4 is an R rating with hardcore Terminator violence and so does T900. This Terminator fan started his own petition for that R rating so if you want to support it and sign up, click HERE now!

Breaking News: Another cast member for T4 has just been revealed. Rapper Common is playing a freedom fighter and member of John Connor's inner circle. Read the Variety article HERE.

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TheArnoldFans Staff