Despite its long struggle to find narrative footing, the “Terminator” franchise continues to be a lasting, bankable appeal as a blockbuster for modern moviegoers. The iconography of the first two installments is so powerful and everlasting today that they provide hope that there is still uncovered potential to be explored in this series. After a string of installments failing to match the quality of James Cameron’s thrill-rides, the franchise is now joining the trend of others in the industry, whether it be “Alien” or “Star Wars,” by going back to the basics of its origin and fueling a nostalgic intensity. “Terminator: Dark Fate” brings James Cameron back into the fold as a story writer and producer, along with Linda Hamilton for the role that made her star, in an effort to wash the plate and redeem the series.
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While the story has been kept under wraps, for the most part, enough presentation of the production is provided to keep fans of the series excited. It seems to be hitting all the Greatest Hits of the first two films, not only with Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger leading the way, but the new additions of Mackenzie Davis as Grace, a time-traveling assassin and female iteration of Michael Biehn’s Kyle Reese, and Gabriel Luna assuming the formidable role of a T-1000, following in the intimidating footsteps of Robert Patrick.
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The unveiling at this year’s CinemaCon hints at a film that is loyal to its fanbase, delivering all the known trademarks and signatures. Yet it remains to be seen where this film will stand in the franchise as a whole. Director Tim Miller, coming off the monumental revival of “Deadpool” and recent success with David Fincher in the “Love, Death and Robots” series, hints toward a certain style of gritty, but self-aware filmmaking that is new to the “Terminator” series. It is clear, however, that like Robert Rodriguez earlier this year with “Alita: Battle Angel,” Miller is working under the umbrella of Cameron, who is recently investing more energy in intellectual properties then he has in the past decade since his return to cinema with “Avatar.” The film is also written by former DC Comic Book film architect, David S. Goyer.
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“Terminator: Dark Fate” is scheduled to be released on November 1, 2019.
