The fifth film in the iconic Terminator sci-fi franchise is still in the works and could be made at Paramount.
According to sources for The Wrap, Paramount is currently in negotiations with Megan Ellison’s Annapurna Pictures and David Ellison's Skydance Productions, which are co-producing the project. None of the three studios would comment on the report.
There hasn’t been much heard about the project in recent months. In January, Skydance and Annapurna hired Laeta Kalogridis (Shutter Island) and Patrick Lussier (Drive Angry) to write the film. Kalogoridis was also an executive producer on James Cameron’s Avatar.
Just days after the writing team was picked, star Arnold Schwarzenegger said in an interview while promoting The Last Stand that he is going to to Terminator 5.
Megan Ellison has had the rights to the franchise since May 2011, when she spent $20 million to acquire it. She has to get started on a new film soon, since the rights will go back to Cameron - who created the franchise - in 2019, when the first film celebrates its 35th anniversary.
Megan recently teamed up with her brother David Ellison and his successful Skydance to co-finance Terminator 5. Skydance has had recent hits with Star Trek Into Darkness and Mission: Impossible.
Terminator hasn’t been in theaters since Warner Bros.’ poorly received 2009 film Terminator Salvation. It still grossed $371 million worldwide, but was a big disappointment in comparison to the first film and T2: Judgement Day, two classics of the sci-fi genre. In 2003, Schwarzenegger starred in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, his last film before becoming California’s governor.
Production on Terminator 5 should start next year, notes The Wrap. However, Megan Ellison still needs to find a director.
image: Amazon