Digital Spy managed to get some time with James Cameron while he was promoting Alita: Battle Angel, and was asked what it was like to work with Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
James revealed that Linda had concerns, and that Arnold needed to have parts of the script explained to him.
“You know, I didn’t work that closely with Linda. She had some concerns about the script. I wound up writing a few pages based on her questions and notes, when they were really just getting into the start of principal photography. “
– James Cameron
Arnold Schwarzenegger also had some questions about how to deliver certain scenes…
“Arnold, as always, is a dream to work with. He wanted things explained, like, ‘Why does the character do this? Why does the character do that?’ I said, ‘Here’s why. Here’s how it works. There are a couple of funny scenes – this is how you’ve got to play them so that it’s not too much, and not too little’.
– James Cameron
He said, ‘OK, I’ve got it. I’ve got it, I’ve got it’. And he went off to Budapest, and did it. So we have a shorthand. He and I have a shorthand.”
Linda Hamilton just doesn’t f*ck around when it comes to Terminator scripts, as we know she refused to star in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines because… well, let’s face it, the script was below par.
Digital Spy claims that James Cameron tweaked the script, James Cameron claims he wrote some pages based on her (Linda’s) questions and notes… we do not know if these were actual script pages- or simply explanations and notes for Linda Hamilton as an actresswho wanted to give her best to the role.
Our hopes are still very tentative for the new Terminator movie but we’re giving it a chance for Linda, Jim and Arnold; so let’s see.
This latest news is hardly music to our ears, as it just reminds us of déjà vu regarding Linda Hamilton being unhappy with Terminator scripts in the past. No surprise though, that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s scenes are intended to be for laughs, and no matter how well intended- this raises concerns for us.
Ultimately, Linda must have been comfortable enough to go ahead with the project; either that or the pay packet was just too good to refuse and, well, we just can’t blame Linda either way… we’re just glad she came to back to try and fix the mess left by T3, T4 and T5.
Thanks Linda.
Here is a fan poster we have made of Sarah Connor and the T-800 together for the new Terminator movie.
Final thoughts… please stop the humor…
11 Comments
This is not reassuring and it reassures me not at all. Weird that Linda Hamilton is saying that while she is back to work alongside Cameron! Even if Cameron was caught by Alita Battle Angel and Avatar 2 it still supposes that he was there to supervise the whole thing alongside a great director like T.Miller and that he had already written his script before! Will it really be fair to divert attention from the eyes of fans or is it wrong to engage in this cult saga of science fiction that will leave us on a failure and a final bet? I hope it will be at the height of 1 or 2 and it will be ranked R and not PG-13! Let’s wait for the impressions of a trailer or a teaser.
While James Cameron has acted as a consultant and has had input with the story,- the main story credits seem to be attributed to David Ellison and Tim Miller with David Goyer being the main credit on the script (this is the way it has been represented).
If Linda has any doubts about the script then we feel she deserves to be listened to and has more understanding of the Sarah Connor character and Terminator than most. This is the warrior goddess who passed on T3: Rise of the Machines because she didn’t believe in the script.
Linda can say what she likes, this isn’t Linda Hamilton saying this publicly, this is James Cameron saying this publicly. If anyone is causing doubt among fans here it is Jim and we trust Linda’s “Judgment”.
We have to remember that Jim Cameron put the writers room together and they are working off his ideas for the future of Terminator not their own.
What Cameron probably did is a little polish, but Cameron himself would’ve put a stop to this new film if it wasn’t up to snuff as he now has controlling rights over the Terminator Franchise again.
I think this is once again being blown out of all proportion.
David Ellison is the person behind the writers room for Terminator 6- he orchestrated it. Deadline reported back in January 2017 that: “David Ellison whose Skydance co-financed Terminator Genisys, is bankrolling an exploratory effort that includes engaging some top-flight science fiction authors to find the movie creatively.”
The Independent stated (also) in January 2017 that: “[Jim] Cameron will regain certain rights to the property in 2019 due to a copyright reversion”, and “David Ellison’s Skydance, who still holds many Terminator rights,”.
So, Jim doesn’t have full control of the Terminator rights (though neither does Mr. Ellison). Though David Ellison has a writers credit for Terminator 6 on IMDB,- James Cameron seemingly does not.
I don’t see how you can be worried. James Cameron nails action movies every time. This film will be a return to form. Looking forward to it.
It seems that if both Arnold and Linda are concerned or confused by the script, we’re talking some substantial changes in character or plot trajectory.
I would guess that Linda’s apprehension about the story comes from where Sarah has been, what she is doing now in relation to the story and possibly, what is going on with her now that John Connor is seemingly gone. She seemed pretty well convinced that her character had been fully written, as of the end of T2. That whatever writers tried to do with Sarah, it would tread into redundancy.
What’s more worrisome is the fact that Arnold was confused. Because, he hasn’t seemed to question anything the writers have asked the T-800 to do in the sequels. If he suddenly has issues, it might be because he isn’t playing the same Terminator model we’ve seen, four times now. He may be playing a human – and I don’t like that concept one bit.
It will play in principle a nasty terminator the 101-01 model of the first tier
First off, I want to thank TheTerminatorFans.com for its impassioned and thorough coverage and reportage of the upcoming movie. Excellent work.
I also respect and appreciate the views and opinions shared by fans who all desperately yearn for a movie worthy of the first two films, or at the very least, a more competent and satisfying sequel than the prior three.
With that said, here are my top five reasons to be both optimistic and pessimistic about the 2019 version of Terminator.
Signs of Promise
1. The presence of James Cameron. What I hope he contributes to the film most is a sense of palpable mood, aura and darkness so lacking in the most recent installments.
2. Linda Hamilton. The return of her tenacious grit and primal intensity in the role of Sarah Connor, while evolving into a modern character, is what stokes my optimism more than any singular aspect of the new project.
What I would love to see explored even minimally is that while Sarah is considered an outlaw and loon by authorities, there’s a subculture of conspiracy theorists and militia types networking in cyberspace who believe she’s a righteous crusader who knows something the rest of us do not.
3. Tim Miller. Cameron’s enthusiastic endorsement of Miller, plus the director’s reverence for the iconic franchise, give me a measure of confidence this won’t be another tragic misfire.
4. Casting Arnold in a more limited but valued and thoughtful role, using his age as an intriguing plot mechanism and storytelling element.
5. Basing many of the scenes of the new Terminator in Spain and other authentic locations. Replicating Mexico and including a desert-based highway chase could be awesome. And using a massive and picturesque dam for a concluding showdown also has great potential.
Signs of concern
1. Cameron’s limited role in the film. To this point I have not gotten the sense that he actually spent any time on set during principal photography. And does he have any significant role in post production?
2. The involvement of David Ellison. He’s undoubtedly a pro and exudes genuine passion for the franchise but he also is largely responsible for what many fans believe was the debacle of Terminator Genisys.
3. The original Terminator character portrayed by Arnold was pure menace. The T-1000 was brilliant. The female Terminator missed the mark. So did the corrupted version of John Connor. I question whether it is possible to create another Terminator villain that is genuinely inventive and fiercely terrifying.
4. Too much green screen and CGI. The fact that two or three months of the movie were filmed in a Budapest studio complex worries me greatly and conjures images of portions of the Avengers films that resemble hyperactive video games.
5. No Edward Furlong. Even in a limited capacity he would have added a valuable and necessary dimension to what is being promoted as the true T3. Without him the movie could feel undeniably hollow. I question whether the inclusion of a child actor will be enough to address the critical story dynamic that is John Connor.
The Wildcard:
A political bent or undercurrent in the movie. This is unquestionably risky but it also could importantly ground the film in reality as long as it doesn’t stray from the original theme of humankind’s tenuous relationship with advancing technology. Pushing the storytelling envelope could be a stroke of narrative genius … or it could backfire miserably.
Just my thoughts as we impatiently await a teaser or trailer.
I hope this movie sucks……and not for me.
I love the terminator franchise.!!!
But for all the winging fanboys.
Ive followed terminator and star wars since thier inception and there was nothing wrong with the last jedi and thier was nothing wrong with terminator genisys.
Hate all you want but fanboys only want the originals.
Our future in movie filmaking will see fanboys write, direct, and star in these movies in the future.
Know why?
Because everytime a director does something you dont like or agree with it gets shoved on the shitpile.
The star wars solo movie was virtually boycotted because of last jedi backlash.
No boys and girls the problem isnt the movie or the director its you…!!
And dont tell me my opinion isnt validated ive followed terminator since 1984 and am a fanatic.
Oh and i loved terminator genisys.
“Linda Hamilton just doesn’t f*ck around when it comes to Terminator scripts”. Sorry, but so what? This doesn’t mean the movie will be authomatically good. Mark Hamill is very passionate about Luke Skywalker but this didn’t stop Last Jedi from killing the franchise.
Later in the post we did say…
“Ultimately, Linda must have been comfortable enough to go ahead with the project; either that or the pay packet was just too good to refuse and, well, we just can’t blame Linda either way… we’re just glad she came to back to try and fix the mess left by T3, T4 and T5.”