Variety is reporting that Warner Bros. has stepped up and secured distribution rights for a fourth film in the Terminator franchise to be called Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins with an early 2008 production start planned and a director to be named soon.
The film will be set in the future, in a full-scale war between Skynet and humankind. Terminator 3 exec producer Moritz Borman tells Variety, “The third film was really the conclusion of what happened in the ‘now.’ You will find the most-loved characters, but the intention here is to present a fresh new world and have this be the first of a trilogy.”
Oddly there is still a little talk that Arnold Schwarzenegger may be back, but I wouldn’t expect anything more than a cameo from the Governator. “We’ve left it open for him to maybe do a cameo,” Borman said. “He has an important job, as we know, and the final decision will be based on his desire and availability, along with what the director wants.”
Terminator 3 scribes John Brancato and Michael Ferris have turned in a script and the studio is looking for a director. Buzz still has Charlie’s Angels helmer McG in the driver’s seat for the director’s chair, but there is nothing confirmed as of yet.
WB plans to distribute Terminator Salvation in summer 2009.
