It’s been quite a while since we’ve heard anything substantial about a new Terminator drama for television. While it looks to still be part of the plan for the keeper’s of the keys over at Skydance productions, it’s likely still a ways off. However, we do have some more details about what the show might look like when it finally does hit screens.
As part of a large interview with Skydance CEO David Ellison and CCO Dana Goldberg, Collider got some questions answered about what the new series will be. In speaking about how the new show will fit into Terminator:Genisys Ellison was very clear that the two would be integrated in some way, though it was too early to say exactly how. He also echoed a refrain we’ve been hearing from a lot of corners these days.
[E]veryone talks in Hollywood about franchises, ‘it’s a franchise business, it’s a franchise business’. I think that’s a slightly old-fashioned word, and I think it’s a world creation business.
In the same way that Marvel has created their cinematic universe and Star Wars will be expanding their mythos on film, get ready for the larger world of The Terminator. Ellison was clear that there would be “connective tissue” between Genisys and the future series but wasn’t able to say how due to the fact that they’re still incredibly early in development on the series. But rest assured knowing it is happening.
Terminator has not been on television since The Sarah Connor Chronicles in 2008-2009, which starred Lena Headey as the titular character and Summer Glau as the protective robot covered in flesh. The show was viewed favorably by many, but like many shows of the time suffered from uneven scripts due to a strike going on among scriptwriters. It was cancelled after two seasons. On a cliff hanger. That will never be resolved. But we’re not bitter.
Ellison says his “gut aspiration” would be for a future Terminator series to be a cable show rather than a network series but he’s open to anything and says it would depend on how the show turns out as far as which would be the best medium. While the series has been in development since around the time Genisys was announced, it’s clear the TV series has not been a focus. Maybe that’s changing now that the film is almost out.
So while we likely won’t be seeing Terminator on TV again anytime soon, it’s still likely that we will see it eventually. What direction would you like see a Terminator series take?
