About a month ago I wrote about how the Terminator franchise rights were up for grabs now that the company who owns the rights, Halcyon Co., has filed for bankruptcy. Well, the rights to the beloved sci-fi franchise are now officially on the auction block and we already have a wild opening bid that’s making news.

The man behind the bid? Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and  Dollhouse.

According to the LA Times, The Halcyon Co. hopes to have the Terminator rights sold off by January, 2o1o, if only to start recouping some of the money they lost on the failed venture that was this summer’s Terminator Salvation (that title suddenly holds a lot of irony, doesn’t it?). There is also the possibility that Halcyon will hop on a “stalking horse,” which is basically a motivated buyer who bids early (and high enough) to have the property put on hold while the buyer then performs full due diligence on said property. To boil it even further down into layman’s terms: If some high-pockets out there thinks there is enough juice left to be squeezed out of the Terminator franchise, they’ll pay to be able to look deeper into just how much money they can make off it.

Sony and Warner Bros. are being floated as the studios circling the property right now, as is independent studio Summit Entertainment (the Twilight guys). But studios are not the only ones interested, apparently; rich guys from the private sector “…have expressed strong interest” said Kevin Shultz, senior managing director of FTI, Halcyon’s hired financial advisors.  Ironically enough, one of those private sector guys making an early bid is none other than Joss Whedon, who in the last 24 hours posted a whopping $10,000 bid for the Terminator rights on fan site whedonesque.com, sparking off rumors galore.

Since that initial “bombshell,” Whedon has explained his out-of-left-field bid to Entertainment Weekly:

“Here’s the thing: It’s not a slam on The Terminator. I love The Terminator. That part’s totally true. I was thinking to myself, ‘Not since they auctioned off frames from The Little Mermaid have I wished I had more money this much. So you know what, never hurts to ask.’ I loved the movies, even the later movies. I loved the mythology. I loved the TV show [The Sarah Connor Chronicles]–like, really loved. Not for pretend. And not just because of [star] Summer [Glau].”

The most surprising thing I read in that quote is that Joss Whedon is actually a fanboy for The Sarah Connor Chronicles – that show certainly didn’t do any favors for the first season of Whedon’s Dollhouse last year!

Needless to say, I’m sure The Halcyon Co. will get a better offer than Whedon’s for the Terminator rights – but wouldn’t be cool if by some chance Joss Whedon became the master of the Terminator universe (or would that be more of a disaster)?  Anyhoo, Halcyon bought the rights for $25 million and now figures their worth – after all the great, great, work they did on Terminator Salvation – to be up around the $60 million range. Whoever nabs said rights gets to call the shots on how any other sequel films or TV spin-offs will go down (hopefully far removed from McG’s terrible plans for T5), and will inherit whatever money can still be squeezed out of Salvation when it hits DVD in December.

Do you have a strategic business plan for who should hold the rights to the Terminator franchise? Should it be a studio or an independent investor who just has that much love for the series?

Sources: LA Times, Entertainment Weekly

Screen Rant seriously has some of the best readers anywhere. They are always on the lookout for new and interesting things to share with us, which we in turn share with you. Today we bring you a video courtesy of long time reader/commenter/troublemaker Lencho – Thanks Bro!

Today’s SR Pick was created by a very talented group of individuals over at HowItShouldHaveEnded.com, and after watching a handful of their previous videos I can safely say “they put their foot in this one” (I know someone has heard that saying before). They have some excellent Flash animators and have chosen to share their skill with the world. They take some great movies that had less than great endings and then, well, show us how it should have ended.

Somebody over at The Halcyon Co. should’ve been listening when Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor told us that the future isn’t certain in Terminator 2. Just a few months ago, a sequel to Terminator Salvation was all but guaranteed; then came the lawsuits between Halcyon (owner of the Terminator franchise rights) and Pacificor, the hedge-fund that sponsored Halcyon’s purchase of the Terminator rights.

Now, it seems that The Halcyon Co. (headed by Derek Anderson and Victor Kubicek) is so far in the red – between Terminator Salvation’s underwhelming returns at the box office, the venture capital needed to buy the franchise rights and alleged manipulations by Pacificor to ensure Halcyon’s financial ruin – that the company is reportedly looking to sell off the Terminator rights to make a buck.

Terminator Salvation came to theaters on May 21st.  It sparked an idea in my head about technology in our society and if it’s really possible get to the point of what the Terminator franchise projects for our future.

When I presented the idea to a co-worker, he dissed it immediately. When a scientist or engineer starts to immediately diss the possibility of an idea, it’s a good clue that it might be a good idea for us to wrap our imaginations around. Hence, the birth of this article.

This was going to be a short piece… but unfortunately, like the technology in Terminator, the more I looked into the subject matter, the more the article grew on me. It got bigger than the original idea. It took me over and I found myself inexorably abducted into having to write it.

Little by little, trailer by trailer, image by image we are getting an idea of what the new film Terminator: Salvation is going to turn out like. More than most movies set to be released this year this is one where movie fans will pounce on every little trailer, image and bit of info to try and figure out how they fit into the movie and what they could possibly mean.

Opinion on the forthcoming Terminator: Salvation has been mixed to say the least. However, with each new bit of news it would appear that director McG has done the unthinkable – firstly he may have finally made a decent film, and secondly (and more importantly) he may also have made a damn good Terminator film.

Who’d have thunk it?

Over the the last twenty-five years The Terminator franchise has set the standard for science fiction films – smart, action packed and filled with ground breaking special effects. The (first two) films are iconic and idolized by millions around the world. So when it was announced that the franchise would have a television spin-off many fans were unhappy, (myself included,) as it would not star Arnold Schwarzenegger (for obvious political reasons.) We feared that a TV series, sans Schwarzenegger, would cheapen the previous entries that had gone before it.

However, there is no need to fear Ye Terminator faithful: although the series does not equal the greatness of T1 and T2, it does expand on the characters, adding new twists, as well as some key references to the films.

Helena Bonham Carter has signed on to McG’s Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins.

Tim Burton’s squeeze will star in a “small but pivotal role” in the action franchise reboot/prequel/sequel (choose whichever floats your boat).

The casting of this film is getting stranger and stranger by the day. First Christian Bale was a total left-field choice for John Connor and now Bonham Carter- an actress known more for costume dramas and Tim Burton films.

There must be a really cool script floating around out there.

I just have to ask the question – How is McG doing it?

Oh, I can’t stand the suspense! This week, the 34th annual Saturn Awards handed out their usual fare of achievement recognizing statues.

In the event you aren’t aware of what they are, the Saturn Awards are the honors handed out by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films. The Academy has been delivering their awards for over thirty years and they look to recognize cinematic achievement.

It’s a recognized validation of the genre we so fervently appreciate.

Some of the more noteworthy recipients of the awards:

Walt Disney Studios picked up three awards, ABC’s Lost snagged four awards, and 300 picked up 2 awards.

You can definitely list this one under, “What the…?!?”

Incredible Love, the first Bollywood film to be made at Universal Studios, has lined up the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger (The Terminator franchise), Sylvester Stallone (Rocky and Rambo series), Brandon Routh (Superman Returns and the upcoming sequel Man of Steel) and Linda Hamilton (also from The Terminator series) to appear.

But don’t get ahead of yourselves excited at the prospects of them in full-on action-mode blowing stuff up. They’re only walk-on parts (i.e. playing themselves).

[UPDATE: Click here for to watch the first Terminator 4 teaser trailer!]

We all know that the teaser trailer for Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins will be running before The Dark Knight (that’s a lot of Christian Bale for one night), but until now we didn’t know what footage would be featured in the trailer.

Ain’t It Cool was given the lowdown on the trailer from a spy who attended a marketing focus group. I can’t imagine that they have much footage in the can for this, as they have only been shooting for a few weeks, but it’ll be interesting to see what sort of visuals McG will be presenting.

What follows includes spoilers for the trailer (if there is such a thing as “spoiling” a trailer).

[Blame me for this story not being posted sooner, it was lost in the shuffle - Vic]

Word hit the web recently that moviegoers will get their first look at Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins (T4 we like to call it) when the teaser trailer premieres on July 18, before The Dark Knight.

For those not already in the know, T4 is the franchise’s first PG-13 offering, set during the post-apocalyptic future of 2018 after the terminators, led by evil super-computer Skynet, have conquered the world. Christian Bale stars as John Connor, leader of the human resistance and alleged savior of mankind. The plot thickens when a mysterious stranger (Sam Worthington) appears, with little memory other than being imprisoned on death row. Is this stranger from the past? The future? And what fate does his appearance portend? J.C. tries to unravel the answers in time to save humanity from Skynet’s final strike.

It’s funny how one little news item will sometimes lead to even bigger ones.

Case in point: The Hollywood Reporter informs us that Bryce Dallas Howard (who was utterly wasted as Gwen Stacey in Spider-Man 3) is being sought after to replace Charlotte Gainsbourg in Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins for the role of Kate Connor – the wife of John Connor (i.e. Batman himself Christian Bale).

Filming has already started in New Mexico and Gainsbourg apparently had to bow out due to scheduling conflicts with a French comedy she’d previously committed to. Fair enough and that’s certainly not uncommon in the film industry.

Above is the first concept art from the Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins (which I think should be shortened to just Terminator Salvation).

If you’ve followed the development of the movie here you’ll know that it’s been a love/hate thing with good news followed by bad and then by good. Well McG, seemingly plugged in to what’s being said about the film online has chimed in with and initial post on what I assume will be the production blog for the film.

Every time I hear something new about Terminator 4, I change my mind about the film.

McG = Bad
Christian Bale = Good
No Arnold Schwarzenegger = Bad
Paul Haggis scripting = Good
PG-13 rating = Bad

Some days it’s good news, other days it’s bad. This movie is making me schizophrenic.

Today is a bad day. It has been announced that Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins will be rated… PG-13. This will be the first time that a film in the franchise hasn’t had an R rating.

The reason?

Money, of course!

Last week news made the rounds that the plug had been pulled on McG’s new Terminator film. However we at Screen Rant don’t like to jump to quick and easy conclusions (well…unless they involve werewolves), and now news comes via The Hollywood Reporter that Moon Bloodgood is in final negotiations to star as the female lead in McG’s Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins or Terminator: The Return of the Terminator, whatever it ends up being called!

Moon Bloodgood – yes that is a real name – was most recently in the Screen Rant favorite TV series Journeyman and she is currently filming Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (but we don’t want to talk about that).

So what is going on with this Sci-Fi sequel/spin-off/restart/sequel/cash-in (delete where applicable).

So is the film in trouble?

No less than 24 hours after our own Niall Browne reported the latest on Terminator 4, Cinema Blend has posted some new plot details (via their own longtime “insider”).

According to their source:

“Just like the ‘Star Wars’ prequels when it was the relationship between Anakin and Obi Wan that drove the three films, that’s the concept for the new Terminator films when its between the relationship of Kyle and John, who is really father and son but with the moral dilemma with John knowing what has to be done in order for him to be born.”

Hopefully, that doesn’t include wooden acting and corny dialog.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Anton Yelchin is in negotiations to star as Kyle Reese in Terminator 4: Who Knows What It Will Be Called?.

The young actor will be seen next as Chekov in J.J Abrams Star Trek reboot/remake.

Paul Haggis (of Crash and Casino Royale fame) is also in negotiations to rewrite the script by David Campbell Wilson, John Brancato and Michael Ferris.

I’ll just let that news sink in for a moment.

Is it good news or bad news? To use a phrase that I say all too often: “It’s a bit of both”.

The Internet has great power, and as we all know, with great power comes great responsibility.

When Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins was first mentioned as the title to the new installment of the iconic franchise, there was much anger and confusion amongst film fans online.

It wasn’t just a bad title, it was a long, bad title.

In the past few years film titles have become ridiculously long. We’ve had the above titled Terminator film, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, not to mention the Harry Potters and The Lord Of The Rings films (however I am tempted to over look these as they are based on books – and it’s good to read… right?)

Just a few minor notes regarding the Sarah Connor Chronicles panel at WonderCon.

They showed a series of clips from the existing episodes combined into a montage. It looks like it may have actually gotten better since the pilot and I’ve been missing out. I may have to watch this in reruns, online, or however else.

Panelists present were Brian Austin Greene, Summer Glau, John Wirth, Craig Tomashoff, Josh Friedman, and Thomas Dekker (John Connor).

They talked about some of their wacky behind the scenes hijinks.

Josh Friedman wanted to bring back Kyle Reese, but they decided to bring back his brother instead. They figured the initial reaction would have been to have been stalked and killed by the fans of the movies. That last bit is mine, not what they said, but it’s essentially the gist.

Sam Worthington has joined the cast of McG’s Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins (preferably called just Terminator 4).

The Australian actor will play a mysterious character named Marcus who is apparently the lead character in the film, despite John Connor being played by Christian Bale this time around.

Marcus is supposed to be a “badass” who was put “out of commission” before Judgement Day. He then wakes up fifteen years before the future war that we have seen in the previous Terminator films.

Worthington apparently got the role after McG spoke with James Cameron, who recommended the young actor following his work on Cameron’s Avatar. If you don’t know, Cameron directed the first two Terminator films, as well as a little-seen film called Titanic.

All has been quiet on the Terminator 4 front lately – or to give the film its correct, and frankly ridiculous, title: Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins.

When McG signed on to direct the film there was terror amongst fans of the franchise, this was however calmed, when Christian Bale was signed as John Connor.

I still can’t get over that pairing, Bale and McG… so either the script is an absolute gem, McG can brainwash people or Bale has just bought a huge house, and he needs cash for the down payment.

We then heard stories that Bale’s part would be very small, and that the lead character would be a chap called Marcus. Marcus, by the way is a character so important that he hasn’t been mentioned at all, in three films over the course of 20 years.

Anyway, before I go off on a total tangent, the213.com had a chat with McG about the film and when they asked him who his ideal Terminator would be he said:

“There’s[sic] guys out there like Russell Crowe and Eric Bana, (who can) bring a good physicality, they do what they do, but I don’t know if they’re exactly right at the end of the day. (Smiles) Josh Brolin is a very exciting actor – we’ll see.”

Strange choices. So, what are the chances?

The premiere episode of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles opens in the year 1999 with a big action scene which is glaringly obvious is a dream sequence about 2/3 of the way in. Sarah wakes up from the nightmare and my first thought was: Lame cop out.

The FBI is after Sarah Connor for her escape from the looney bin in Terminator 2 and because they believe she is responsible for the death of Miles Dyson, also from that film. Dyson was the guy who was responsible for Skynet, the computer system that brought nuclear armageddon upon humanity. It seems that his death only delayed the inevitable.

Regarding the timeline of this series: It seems to take place between T2 & T3.

Ok, before I rip into this thing, maybe I should list some positives about the episode so you don’t think I’m being a jerk just for fun. Was there anything good about the show?

Yes.

Happy New Year! I hope that all Screen Rant readers have had a great Christmas and I hope that you all have a fantastic 2008. Movie-wise we should be having a spectacular year, the best in recent memory. Not to wish time away, here’s some news on one of 2009’s big films.

Today I picked up my monthly copy of Empire magazine and there’s a nice little interview with Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins producer Moritz Borman. He’s doesn’t give much away, but he does give us some details on the forthcoming film.

When news broke that Christian Bale would be starring in the snappily titled Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, fanboys across the net cheered with joy.

When his name was first mentioned there was much confusion over which role he’d be playing, however we are now assured that he will be John Connor in this Schwarzenegger-less (probably) sequel.

The boys over at CHUD.com seem to have a mole deep inside the Terminator 4 production and they have a brief outline of the film’s plot and an update of what characters we can expect to see in the forthcoming film.

The most interesting thing about this new Terminator film is that apparently John Connor isn’t the main character – the lead is somebody called Marcus. Marcus (according to CHUD) is a “bad ass”, who was put “out of commission” before Judgement Day. Marcus then wakes up fifteen years before the future that we all know and love from the original Terminator movies.

I love the first two Terminator films. The Terminator was the first film that I ever owned on VHS and Terminator 2 was the first film that I ever snuck into the cinema to watch. Terminator 3, I can enjoy, but it’s very much like the Star Wars prequels; I see them as second helpings of a great dish. Nice enough, but just not as good as your first helping.

In contrast, I hate the Charlies Angels films. Hate them. I saw the first film because it had Bill Murray, and I only saw the second because a friend of mine was called Charlie and, well he wanted to watch it.

I see McG as a cinematic Anti-Christ.

Entertainment Weekly premiered four new posters for the upcoming Fox TV series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. We haven’t given much coverage to this new series on the site beyond a story this past summer describing what it would be about.

As far as I know, it takes place between the second and third Terminator films, and from what little I’ve read it seems that it disregard the events of the third film. According to executive producer Josh Friedman:

“Terminator 3 for our timeline doesn’t exist, now let’s go forward.”

I hope we’re not seeing the start of a trend in regards to long, convoluted movie titles. First there was the Indy 4 title, which I have to look up almost every time I go to write about it: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Now comes news that the new Terminator sequel is moving forward (Warner Bros. won out in the distribution rights battle with MGM) and will be titled:

Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins

Are you kidding me? Am I whacked or is that one of the dumbest sounding movie titles to come down the pike in quite a while?

IGN.com gleaned a few details about what’s happening with the next Terminator sequel in a conversation with James Middleton, a producer on the upcoming TV show Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Most of it is the same as the last bit of news that came out last May, but there are a few new details.

- They’re still going to have the screenplay written by two of the writers of Terminator 3 as was reported back in May.

- Despite some legal wrangling that took place, The Halcyon Company, which now owns the franchise is still set to produce the film.

- They want to start pre-production in October and shoot for a 2009 release.

There’s a new series in town (OK, there are a bunch of new series really) on FOX, but this one touches on the Terminator franchise, called The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

The premise of the show picks up the time line between the second and third movies, with Sarah and John on the run as fugitives from the law and hiding from any Terminator that may happen about, and of course, they do! I mean face it, it’s a terminator franchise, and not having a termi-bot or two running about would be ridiculous.