For the ‘Terminator’ Franchise to Thrive, It Must Move On Without Arnold Schwarzenegger

Every follow-up since ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ has attempted to duplicate the popularity of James Cameron’s first movies. The majority of these films have used Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 in a heroic position akin to T2, whether it be by concentrating on an older John Connor, bringing back Sarah Connor, or reinventing the brand. Even though he still serves as the franchise’s face, some of its most popular adaptations have prospered without Schwarzenegger. It could need to do the same if Cameron’s next ‘Terminator 7’ is to be a success.

Although Schwarzenegger was essential to The Terminator’s early popularity, a number of films have demonstrated that the franchise can function without him. The TV shows ‘Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles’ and ‘Terminator Zero’ demonstrated that fans may be captivated by new characters and innovative narratives. The next ‘Terminator’ movie, which Cameron has suggested will examine AI’s place in contemporary society, is a perfect chance to move the emphasis away from the T-800. It is unknown whether the new film is a follow-up, a reboot, or a sequel to ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’, but one thing is for sure: the franchise needs a fresh direction.

Image Courtesy: IMDb 

‘Terminator Salvation’, which examined the war-torn future following ‘Judgment Day’, was the final attempt at a ‘Terminator’ movie without Schwarzenegger. Despite its limitations, the film had a good cast and offered fresh viewpoints. Schwarzenegger was the governor of California at the time, thus his appearance was restricted to a computer-generated cameo. Reviving the franchise may require a similar strategy, one that respects the series’ past while advancing.

Even Arnold Schwarzenegger has admitted that it’s time for him to move on. He told The Hollywood Reporter in 2023 that although the franchise will go on, he will no longer be involved. He acknowledged that it is tiring to keep trying to reproduce ‘Terminator 2’, and that people are ready for a fresh interpretation of the franchise. To reimagine ‘Terminator’ as a sci-fi slasher instead of another action-packed movie, several fans and critics have advocated that the franchise should go back to its horror roots.

Image Courtesy: MUBI

The success of ‘The Sarah Connor Chronicles’ and ‘Terminator Zero’ can be attributed to their willingness to take risks. While ‘The Sarah Connor Chronicles’ expanded the established lore while introducing new battles and allies, ‘Zero’ brought the plot to Japan in the 1990s with new characters. There are a ton of ways to explore the ‘Terminator’ concept in future movies, but it’s time to do so without Schwarzenegger. He shouldn’t return this time.

–Farheen Ali