"Terminator 5" is the tentative name for the fifth installment of the Terminator movie franchise. Originally announced as a sequel to Terminator Salvation by McG to be released sometime in 2011, Halcyon Company was forced to declare bankruptcy and production was put on hiatus. The film has now been picked up by Megan Ellison and Annapurna Films.

McG's Plot

Terminator Salvation was to introduce a new trilogy, consisting of Salvation, Terminator 5, and Terminator 6.

In statements to FilmJournal, McG revealed his plans to have the movie set in 2011, pre-Judgment Day - similar to Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles revelation that Judgment Day takes place on April 21, 2011 - and to bring back the chase feel of the original trilogy.^[1] The plot had Skynet discovering how to send non-Infiltrator Terminators such as Hunter-Killers and Harvesters through the Time Displacement Equipment. John Connor goes back through time to fight the machines using present day military tactics and technology while being pursued by a new model Terminator. While in the past, he meets a 60 year-old scientist played by Robert Patrick, who is researching cell replication and was to become the template of the T-1000.^[2] McG also planned to have Sarah Connor live until 2011, which would have retconned Terminator 3's plot of her dying of leukemia. Rumors circulated that the film would take place in modern day London, despite the fact that both Terminator 3 and Terminator Salvation state that Judgment Day happened in 2004.^[3]

Lin's Plot

Justin Lin's plot has so far included the survival of Sarah Connor, as well as a reboot to the series.^[4]

Hiatus and legal battles

2009

Production of a fifth film had been halted by legal trouble pertaining to the rights to the Terminator Franchise as well as production Company Halcyon filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. In late September of 2009, it was announced that the rights for the franchise were up for sale as the Halcyon Company tried to pull itself out of bankruptcy.

In late October, Halcyon announced it would auction off the rights to future Terminator material and was seeking $60-70 million, though the only offer was $10,000 by director Joss Whedon.

In December, Halcyon issued a statement that they are looking at various options including sale and refinancing of the rights with an announcement on the outcome no later than February 1st of 2010. ^[5] James Cameron expressed no interest in taking back the Terminator franchise. ^[6]

2010

On February 8, 2010, an auction was held to determine the owner of the Terminator rights. After studios Sony and Lionsgate bid separately from 3 PM to 8 PM, Pacificor, the hedge fund who pushed Halycon into bankruptcy, made a deal for $29.5 million. ^[7] William Wisher, Jr. has written a script for a fifth Terminator film and an outline for a sixth film. ^[8]

On August 13, following the announcement of the animated movie Terminator 3000, Pacificor released a statement that they are continuing development of a live action Terminator 5 and they are seeking an injunction to block the animated spinoff film.^[9] It was reported that Pacifior was in talks with Sony and Lionsgate to handle future Terminator films.^[10]

2011

On April 26, it was announced that Pacificor, current rights holder to the Terminator franchise, is seeking distributors for a possible Terminator sequel with Arnold Schwarzenegger signed to star in the film and Fast and Furious Justin Lin directing.^[11]

On May 12, a battle over the rights to the Terminator franchise between Lionsgate and billionaire film backer Megan Ellison and her company, Annapurna Films, ensued.^[12] While Lionsgate managed to bring up half of the $29.5 million to buy the rights to the franchise, Ellison won the rights with an undisclosed amount of money the following day.^[13]

While Lin has been in talks with Schwarzenegger and Cameron on the plot of the fifth installment, he has ultimately dropped the film in favor for Fast 6, the tentative name of the sixth installment of the Fast & Furious series, leaving Annapurna Films to produce and release both Terminator 5 and Terminator 6 before 2018, where the rights will revert back to Cameron.^[14]

2012

On January 27, Megan Ellison stated that the next Terminator movie will have an R-Rating. ^[15]

On June 8, Arnold Schwarzenegger stated that after he has completed work on Unknown Soldier and Ten, filming for Terminator 5 would begin. The story will be a continuation of Terminator Salvation's, and it is unknown if Justin Lin is still directing. ^[16]

On December 3, a year and half after negotiations were entered, the deal between PacificCorp and Annapurna was closed. Megan Ellison enlisted her brother David Ellison(Skydance productions) on the production process. She said they are "starting from scratch as they seek out a screenwriter to plot the end". ^[17]

References

1. ↑ McG Talks T5 - Movies News at IGN
2. ↑ More T5 talk - ArrowintheHead.com
3. ↑ Terminator 5 Set in Modern Day London?
4. ↑ Justin Lin talks Terminator 5 to clear up-rumors
5. ↑ Halcyon Expects a Terminator Buyer By February 2010
6. ↑ James Cameron Talks Avatar 2, Terminator 5 & 6, Spider-Man Reboot, Batman Movies, How Hollywood is Getting 3D Wrong, and His Oscar Chances | /Film
7. ↑ TERMINATOR Rights Sold to Pacificor. Sony and Lionsgate Lose the Auction – Collider.com
8. ↑ TERMINATOR 5 and 6 Ideas From TERMINATOR/T2 Scribe William Wisher
9. ↑ 'Terminator' Rights Holder Sends Cease And Desist Letter To Kill Proposed 3D Animated Feature - Deadline
10. ↑ TERMINATOR Rights Sold to Pacificor. Sony and Lionsgate Lose the Auction – Collider.com
11. ↑ Arnold Schwarzenegger Back To Star As 'Terminator' In Rights Package Shopping Now; 'Fast Five's Justin Lin To Direct
12. ↑ Lionsates & Megan Ellison battle over TERMINATOR 5
13. ↑ Megan Ellison Wins the "Terminator" Sweepstakes
14. ↑ Terminator 5 sees more set backs
15. ↑ 'Terminator 5' Returning to its R-Rated Roots; Awesome Photos of PG-13 'Expendables 2'
16. ↑ Schwarzenegger Slates Terminator 5 Shoot
17. ↑ [1]