Can you believe it’s been nearly thirty years since Terminator 2: Judgement Day hit theaters? That’s a lifetime in Hollywood terms. And yet people are still drawn to the franchise, despite all the lows the series has endured.
But it’s been awhile (not thirty years, but awhile) since people have anticipated a Terminator film as much as they are anticipating Terminator: Dark Fate. James Cameron is back producing, Tim Miller of Deadpool fame is directing and, most notably, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Edward Furlong and perpetual bad ass Linda Hamilton are all returning. But make no mistake: they’re all very aware that a lot of time has passed since they were last together on screen. Just take a look at this brand new poster for Dark Fate and notice the wrinkles and grayed hair. Hamilton, Schwarzenegger and the series as a whole aren’t shying away from their age.
Sure they are old enough to be your grandparents but, God damn, they look tough. Linda Hamilton just owns those aviator sunglasses. And that steely-eyed look from Arnie? The man’s still got it.
I’m so nervous about Dark Fate. The Terminator franchise will always hold a special place in my heart (the original film is one of the best science-fiction films ever made) but once you step back and look at all the films that followed, except T2, you notice that the series hasn’t ever really been that strong since Cameron left. The concept created by Cameron and Gale Ann Hurd in the 80s is so remarkable that we’ve all kept coming back to these movies again and again, hopeful that they’ll revive some of the old magic. If you’re being honest with yourself you’ll admit that most Terminator films suck. Yes, the central conceit behind all of them has always been intriguing but everything since Judgement Day has been mediocre at best. So I’m afraid that Dark Fate will be like the multiple films that have come before it.
Has the Terminator series just said all that there is to say? Is there no more gas in the tank? Or will the return of Cameron and Hamilton kick-start things once again? Dark Fate is completely disregarding any films that came after Judgement Day and that gives me hope but then I think of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Terminator Salvation, Terminator Genisys and, well, I get nervous all over again.
Terminator: Dark Fate hits theaters on November 1st.