M-C-G. Those are the last three letters any Terminator fan wants to hear in connection with the next installment of the sci-fi franchise. While one can argue this director is not totally to blame for last years disappointing Terminator Salvation, his non-return for another film is likely for the best. With that said, talk must begin on the topic of who will helm what is now being referred to as Terminator 5.

While many are quick to name James Cameron, his return is likely not going to happen. As the filmmaker has stated when discussing the topic, “The soups kind of been pissed in…I don’t have any personal desire to go back to it.” Fortunately, while Cameron might not want to touch his original recipe, his good old friend William Wisher does. For those who don’t know, Wisher is the man who helped Cameron write both The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. He’s stated that he’s written a treatment for both T5 and T6, which are said to connect all the previous films in the franchise, yet bring back the original characters, Terminator fans know and love, to the central story. While nothing has been made official, it would be insane if Pacificor LLC (the new owners of the franchise rights) aren’t listening to Wisher’s ideas. However, they must also realize Wisher is a writer, not a director. Which brings us back to the point of who will direct the next film, ideally, using the treatment Wisher has written.

What I have assembled here is a list of five directors who I feel can bring the next Terminator film(s) to the big screen. None of these guys are unrealistic choices by any stretch of the imagination, but filmmakers who can bring both a sense of excitement and credibility to a franchise in dire need of it. I must caution you that this list is in no way an official list of directors the new franchise owners are looking at, just suggestions. However, one can only hope that they pay attention to what this Terminator fan has to say.

Ever since the release of the Academy Award nominated District 9 last year, this is the one director who Terminator fans have been championing for to helm the next installment. With his keen sense of directing, unique visual style, and most of all, ability to balance both story and action, he is hands down the perfect choice to direct the 5th film. Besides this, Blomkampf has stated how the original Terminator is what inspired him to make movies, as well as how the film influenced his experience in making District 9. He has cited his love of the idea of man vs. machine, along with comparing the tone of both films having that “raw ’80s violence.” He already has experience in the sci-fi genre, but also has the ability to handle big action sequences, especially considering the fact District 9 was made on a relatively moderate budget. All in all, Blomkampf helming the next Terminator would be the most ideal scenario to happen to this franchise. He’s a young and exciting director, a huge fan of the original (and probably the 2nd installment as well), can shoot visually suspenseful action sequences and be able to tell a dramatic, human story in the process.

 

For anyone who’s familiar with D.J. Caruso, they know he can direct the hell out of an action flick. In viewing his most recent efforts of Disturbia and Eagle Eye, Caruso shows he’s not only capable of crafting a suspenseful, exciting thriller, but also a fast-paced action movie to keep an audience on the edge of their seat. But it's his earlier work of The Salton Sea that has me thinking he’d be a good fit for the Terminator franchise. This 2002 neo-noir film dealt with intensely emotional characters involved in the deviant side of human behavior (drugs, murder, insanity), all while being shot in a stylish manner which leaves the viewer feeling unsettled after viewing. While this may not all exactly fit the realm of the Terminator universe, they relate to the core of what James Cameron intended in the first two films: humanism. Caruso has a firm grasp about what it takes to bring out the dark side of human behavior and project it well on screen. In imagining what he could do with a Terminator film, he could show the daily torture John Connor and the rest of the resistance take not only on a physical level in living in a post-apocalyptic world, but also on an emotional one as well. So while Caruso obviously has was it takes to direct the huge, special effects action sequences that are sure to be included in the next movie, its his ability to portray humanized characters that has me thinking he’d be a great choice for the next installment.

This is one director who many moviegoers may not be too familiar with, but has a strong connection to Terminator franchise star, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Nimrod Antal is the man directing this summer’s forthcoming, Predators, a “sequel” to the Schwarzenegger starring original, Predator. While many would be quick to ask, “So he’s directing Predators, what’s that got to do with Terminator?”, just think about the situation for a second. Antal was handpicked by Robert Rodriguez to helm the follow-up to an ‘80s action classic. He also has shown in his previous films, Kontrol and Vacancy, the ability to create extremely intense sequences of suspense to keep the viewer riveted. Finally, early word is that the filmmaker has hit Predators out of the park as buzz on the film has been nothing but positive. In this case, it should be contemplated that if this filmmaker (who has won a Cannes Film Festival award for Best Young Director) can deliver a worthy sequel to a Schwarzenegger starring classic, why can’t he again?

 

Yes, you read that right. Bill Paxton. The James Cameron veteran who has been involved in nearly every film the great director has made, from The Terminator, to Aliens, to True Lies, to Titanic. While you can understandably doubt my credibility with this choice, this was a guy who I thought long and hard about before putting him on this list. With that said, I’ll face the facts right away. 1.) He has only directed two films to his credit, 2001’s Frailty and 2005’s The Greatest Game Ever Played, 2.) He has never directed an action movie, and 3.) “Game over man, game over!” Now that I’ve gotten through that, let me get to the reasons why I think he’d be a good choice. First off, if there’s any actor besides the great Schwarzenegger that knows the atmosphere a James Cameron movie should have, its Paxton. Like I said, the guy’s been involved in almost every movie Cameron has made along with being one of the director’s closest friends. He knows what kind of Terminator movie Cameron would make along with William Wisher as well. Secondly, I’ve seen both of Paxton’s directorial efforts, and while they're not great by any standards, they are very, very well directed. I just recently watched The Greatest Game Every Played for the first time and never thought I could be put on the edge of my seat by a golf movie. A golf movie! Also, the performances in Paxton’s films always seem to be top notch as the actor/director obviously has a sense of how to bring out the right performance in his actors and actresses. Finally, while Bill Paxton wouldn’t be the first choice to direct a Terminator film, he does bring one thing with him that many other candidates don’t have, credibility. The guy’s been around Hollywood for over 30 years and been in everything from movies to TV. He knows the tricks and the trade of the place and won’t take bullshit or no for any answer if it involves the compromising of a film, especially if it’s representing his good friend’s (James Cameron) vision. Bill Paxton could direct a good Terminator film, I know it.

I saved the most “inspired” choice for last. For anyone who has seen the great action movies of the late 80s and early 90s, John McTiernan is probably the one name you’ll find most associated to these films. He did a knockout job in the original Schwarzenegger starring Predator, jump-started Bruce Willis’ career with Die Hard, and initiated the beginning of the great Jack Ryan film series with The Hunt for Red October. Unfortunately, for McTiernan, his career has hit quite a snag over the past decade. With box office bombs such as Rollerball and Basic, along with being involved with an FBI investigation which cost him four months in federal prison, McTiernan hasn’t had a directorial effort released in 7 years. In my humble opinion, I think if there’s anybody more qualified to direct a “good” Terminator movie, it's McTiernan. The guy gets action, we all know that. But it's important to note that the man cares deeply about the dramatic aspect of filmmaking as well. I remember watching Die Hard on DVD with commentary from the makers of the film, and one of the producers stated that what surprised him most about McTiernan was how much he DIDN’T want to talk about action and how much he DID want to talk about story and character. This is a quality that has been missing hugely from the Terminator franchise since the departure of Cameron as the past two installments have become more style over substance. I think McTiernan could reverse that trend. With him not being the “hot commodity” as he once was in Hollywood, it wouldn’t be difficult to convince him to have T5 be his comeback film. Not to mention, it would earn great credibility amongst Terminator and Schwarzenegger fans of the 80s and 90s as an old-fashioned action director would be taking the reigns of a Terminator film, not a new-age talent. Whatever the case may be, McTiernan deserves a shot at directing the next movie.

On a final note, I must add that while it seems at this point in the Terminator universe that we are still a long ways off from getting the next film, having heard the term “reboot” thrown around disappoints me. Not because it seems to be the Hollywood trend these days to restart a great franchise but because I truly believe there is still hope left for this Terminator franchise. With the right people involved who truly are passionate about the vision of its original creator, I think they can still find something truly special. I only hope there are those around Hollywood who feel the same way.

-John DiNicola