Possible Scenario for Future Terminator Sequels

The Terminator franchise would get new killer machines, plenty of time travel and a revamped role for Arnold Schwarzenegger if screenwriter William Wisher Jr., who worked on the first two movies, had his way.

That's the gist of a report from Deadline Hollywood, according to a blogger who claims he's read Wisher's "detailed 24-page treatment for Terminator 5, and a four-page concept outline for Terminator 6."

The outlines present a "satisfying conclusion" to what would be a six-movie Terminator story arc, according Deadline Hollywood, which published these "high points" from Wisher's concept Thursday:

Wisher's two-picture construct takes place in a post-apocalyptic battleground, and factors in an element of time travel that allows for Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese to interact beyond their single fateful meeting when he traveled back in time to protect her in the original film. Wisher has created a role for Arnold Schwarzenegger that is as surprising as his shift from villain in the first film, to John Connor's bodyguard in the second. Schwarzenegger wouldn't be needed until the final film, which wouldn't shoot until after he ends his term as California governor. And who wouldn't want to see Linda Hamilton back in aerobic top fitness form as Sarah Connor?

There are several new villains, and plenty of firepower. For instance, a swarm of “Night Crawlers,” 4 1/2-foot tall border sentries that are set like mines to spring up out of the ground and ambush rebel fighters with 10mm pistols built into their wrists, and fingers and feet that are razor sharp. Also fresh off the Skynet assembly line are new shape-shifting cyborgs that can morph together in Transformers-like mode, and are more lethal than anything we've seen in previous Terminator installments.

With the rights to the Terminator franchise sold off this week to hedge fund Pacificor, it's completely unclear what the future holds for the sci-fi movies. McG, who directed 2009's Terminator Salvation, could be left out in the cold when it comes to the sequels.

But a course correction from Wisher, who worked with James Cameron on the original Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, could be just what the franchise needs after a couple of underwhelming installments.

Full story: Exclusive: Wisher's Take on Terminator – Deadline Hollywood

Follow us on Twitter: @lewiswallace and @theunderwire.

See Also:

• Creator James Cameron on Terminators Origins, Arnold as Robot
• Exclusive Images Reveal McG's Terminator Salvation Vision
• The Terminator as Metaphor for Life
• Review: Loud Terminator Salvation Makes for Grim Spectacle
• Inside Bleak Terminator Salvation World
• Terminator Salvation Uses Badass Robots to Explore Humanity