James Cameron has announced that the original Sarah Connor is returning. Yes, Linda Hamilton is back for another go-round with the Terminator. The news is an exciting moment for film fans as Hamilton is an icon for strong women. Hamilton did a voice-over for Terminator Salvation, widely regarded as a franchise low, but has not been seen on screen in the franchise since Terminator 2: Judgement Day in 1991. Cameron stated at an event celebrating the history of the franchise:
“There are 50-year-old, 60-year-old guys out there killing bad guys… but there isn’t an example of that for women.”
Fans will be ecstatic at the return of the working union of Cameron and Hamilton. Their relationship has not always been rosy, and Hamilton has outright stated that their marriage was “terrible on every level”. They divorced in December 1999, their marriage lasting a little over two years. Cameron will not be directing this time, however, that responsibility falls on Tim Miller who helmed the box office smash Deadpool.
Considering Miller’s success at rescuing Deadpool, the idea of Hamilton, Cameron, and Arnold Schwarzenegger involved with him is monumental. The new pic is rumoured to be a direct sequel to Judgement Day, so disregarding all the Cameron-less sequels, and will introduce a new heroine for the new trilogy. Says Cameron:
“We’re starting a search for an 18-something woman to be the new centerpiece of the new story. We still fold time. We will have characters from the future and the present. There will be mostly new characters, but we’ll have Arnold and Linda’s characters to anchor it.”
Unfortunately, David Goyer is part of the writer’s room, which gives me pause. Goyer’s script quality is infamous; despite having his name attached to the Nolan Batman trilogy, Dark City, and Blade, he has also made abominations. Let us never forget Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance or the convoluted Batman vs Superman script. On a positive note, Josh Friedman who created the underrated Sarah Connor Chronicles is also on board, so there is hope. Terminator: Genisys, despite mediocre reviews, raked in $440 million at the box office, so the rise of the machines still appears to be upon us.