A storm may brewing in the clouds behind the Columbia lady... 

Sony Pictures has “quietly” entered the bidding war to purchase all the Terminator franchise rights from the Halcyon Company.

The last news regarding this was the announcement of Lionsgate taking the first stab at owning the franchise, with a “stalking horse” bid.    I’m no expert on the legalities of an auction - - I don’t even watch Antiques Roadshow (what?) - - but, remarkably, that sort of bid has nothing to do with a  heavy-breathing appaloosa making crank calls.  It seems to mean that, because Lionsgate made a floor bid of $15 mil, it’ll receive a break-up fee from the winner to the tune of $750 grand.

I almost had to turn this down.   If there were ever an article that put me into a conflict of interest, it’d be the future of Terminator.  T2: JUDGMENT DAY is my all-time favorite movie.   I’ve seen it probably a hundred times.   I’ve watched all the behind-the-scenes features and listened to all the commentaries on both the Ultimate and Extreme editions DVDs.   I’ve owned the Brad Fiedel score on CD. I’m that scary breed of “hardcore fan” G-Man warned the world  about in his review of TERMINATOR: SALVATION.

So I was tremendously frustrated when I saw the McG-helmed sequel last May - - mainly because it got so many details right.   John Connor teaming up with a teen Kyle Reese? Cool!   The irony of John having to save his own father, before Reese goes back to save his mother and then Sarah goes on to save John himself as a kid? Genius!   The bulky, awkward, mean, couldn’t-fool-anybody-with-its-disguise look of the T-600? Awesome!

The undelivered prospect of this future being different than the one John was warned about? Frustrating!   The sheer amount of screentime given to uninteresting would-be lead, Marcus Wright? Annoying!   The fact that, with all the things they could’ve done with this ripe mythology, they went with such a modestly-scoped plot? Maddening!

I need to stop… * HUFF * Just read the CHUD article.

I want to think that, if a machine can learn the value of human life, there can be a good sequel eventually.

-- Tom Pinchuk is the writer of UNIMAGINABLE for Arcana Comics and HYBRID BASTARDS! for Archaia Comics.   Watch out for the HYBRID BASTARDS! hardcover collection this March - - available for pre-order now on Amazon.com. 

i really like all 4 films , and would for sure see more 

What's a terminator???

"i really like all 4 films , and would for sure see more  "

"What's a terminator??? "

called it that there would be other bids. any company would be foolish not to try and pick up this franchise
just for the merchandising rights alone.

"
@Tom Pinchuck 
I noticed that you had no words for the 3rd movie in the series. Whats your take on Nick Stahl, Claire Daines and an obviously aging Ah-nold? I feel like it was contrived myself. Considering how far our technology has advanced in the last 2 and a half decades, to see a terminator with wi-fi access to the world's myriad databases seemed like watching Star Trek: Enterprise or the Star Wars prequels with advanced tech that seems completely out of place considering the scope of the series so far. Seems like the terminatrix in the 3rd installment was what Robert Patrick's T-2000 should have been. I'm not busting on Judgement Day though, the movie was good and I enjoyed it very much. "

I like this Mr. Pinchuk. He's alright. He said everything that I was thinking regarding TS. Good stuff.
 
I want a good T5, damn it, and I want it soon.

took me only a few minutes to decide.
i was already leaning towards Sony because i think they can bring a heavier array of 
resources to the film, and give it a stronger video game based line as well. but now im sold
on Sony and for one reason. Sony owns MGM, who in turn owns Orion, making them the ones who
hold the rights to Robocop, which could finally open the doors for this...

I do sort of think, "let it lay for a bit"

"@skaarason said:

"i really like all 4 films , and would for sure see more  "

Me too. "

"took me only a few minutes to decide.
i was already leaning towards Sony because i think they can bring a heavier array of 
resources to the film, and give it a stronger video game based line as well. but now im sold
on Sony and for one reason. Sony owns MGM, who in turn owns Orion, making them the ones who
hold the rights to Robocop, which could finally open the doors for this...

"

T2 and Terminator: Salvation are my favorites, and I didn't dislike the other two. I hope whoever gets the franchise keeps up the good work (and keeps the movies PG-13 from now on).

" I have loved all 4 movies... 3 being the lowest on this list but I thought it was good. I would hate to see this franchise go to waste. "