Warner Bros. Pictures has set a May 22, 2009 release date for Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, to be directed by McG and starring Christian Bale (The Dark Knight) and Sam Worthington (Avatar).
That puts it head-to-head with Fox’s Night at the Museum 2: Escape From the Smithsonian on the same date. The studio had already staked out the May 22 release for the Ben Stiller sequel.
Warner will distribute the pic in North America through a deal with Halcyon Co., which owns all franchise rights to the “Terminator” series. Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group has acquired international distribution rights.
“Terminator Salvation” begins filming in New Mexico for two months on May 5. The film is part of a planned three-picture arc that begins after Skynet has destroyed much of humanity in a nuclear holocaust. A group of survivors led by John Connor (Bale) struggles to stop the machines.
