ROTTEN TOMATOES: Terminator 4 Rights Now a Case for the Courts

Terminator 4 Rights Now a Case for the Courts

Anything to slow this project down...

by Scott Weinberg | July 19, 2007

OK, this is all very technical legal mumbo-jumbo, but the bottom line seems to be this: Don't expect a Terminator 4 any time real soon.

Although a company called Halcyon acquired the rights to make a fourth Terminator flick earlier this year, there seems to be a stumbling block. Basically, MGM claims to still have an option on the franchise. Or something like that. You tell me if you can decipher this passage from Variety:

"According to the complaint, filed in L.A. Superior Court on Wednesday, MGM claimed it had acquired an exclusive 30-day negotiation window for "T4" in the 1990s Orion Pictures bankruptcy. T Asset, the plaintiff and Halcyon's subsidiary, did not concede MGM's rights but began negotiations in May over distribution. T Asset claims MGM's exclusive window is now over despite MGM's claims in the media that it has the right to distribute "T4." The suit seeks a declaration and injunctive relief."

Whew. It goes on for another two paragraphs. And this is considered the layman's version of a legal complaint. Yikes. Why anyone would go to all this trouble to make an Ahnold-free Terminator flick is simply beyond my comprehension, so let's hope the issue stays tied up in court for a while. One less franchise to run into the ground.

Source: Variety

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(1-20 of 23 posts) | Reply

Mr. Kong writes:
on Jul 19 2007 09:52 AM

Just give it to MGM.

(Reply to this)

oldnoakes writes:
on Jul 19 2007 10:19 AM

this is great news! any delays in pumping out a worthless sequels is music to my ears.

(Reply to this)

Mr. Kong writes:
on Jul 19 2007 10:35 AM

In reply to this comment (#947968)
Why? Don't people realize that procrastination (spelling?) is just stupid and they should get it over with?

(Reply to this)

bigbrother writes:
on Jul 19 2007 10:53 AM

In reply to this comment (#947980)
I'm not sure that's true in Hollywood's case because as soon as they get one over with they start pumping out another and another and another. This franchise should just be allowed to die unless James Cameron wants to take another crack at it.

(Reply to this)

lpbreeze writes:
on Jul 19 2007 11:49 AM

I think MGM should just let it go. If they wanted bad they would have made more of an effort instead of waiting.

(Reply to this)

stevegilpin writes:
on Jul 19 2007 12:04 PM

I think that MGM and Halcyon should take this as a sign: DON'T MAKE A FOURTH TERMINATOR MOVIE! That's all I have to say about that.

(Reply to this)

TheInnkeeper writes:
on Jul 19 2007 12:55 PM

Oh come on, why shouldn't they make a fourth? The third one was done remarkably well. Granted, it wasn't as good as the second, but it was definitely well-made.

Besides, The Sarah Connor Chronicles are supposed to tie into another trilogy! If what they do is the same quality as three, more power to them.

(Reply to this)

jmo2ski writes:
on Jul 19 2007 01:33 PM

This is a good thing, then we won't have to see any more lame sequels, with cheap *** special effects and a cast of unfamiliar faces.

Now i think if they remake it could be better.

(Reply to this)

bobtom writes:
on Jul 19 2007 01:54 PM

there can't be a terminator movie without arnold in it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Reply to this)

bigbrother writes:
on Jul 19 2007 02:15 PM

In reply to this comment (#948591)
I think the problem lies with trying to follow greatness T1 & 2 with just good. I would disagree that T3 was a good movie it's passable at best in my book, but when you try to follow up classics with anything less it diminishes the previous movies and sours their enjoyability because no matter where a story starts its where it ends that counts for a lot of people and if you can't do better than what people imagine for themselves what's the point in doing it.

(Reply to this)

simplekindoflovely writes:
on Jul 19 2007 02:23 PM

GOOD. Just bury this steaming pile of crap once and for all. Part 3 shouldn't have been made. I don't know why they are bothering. As a Terminator fan, I have absolutely no interest in this.

(Reply to this)

rmobbs writes:
on Jul 19 2007 02:24 PM

In reply to this comment (#948593)
Which part of T3 was 'done remarkably well'? The part where Arnie makes fun of his whole badass image by saying such lame things as 'talk to the hand' and wearing flower sunglasses? The part where they trot out old Dr. Silberman - apparently the only psychologist working for the entire state of California - to 'hilariously' reminisce with horror about his experience with the terminator, then jog away in fear? The ridiculous Terminatrix angle?

T3 was an embarrassment.

(Reply to this)

bluestar50 writes:
on Jul 19 2007 02:51 PM

In reply to this comment (#948593)
What do you mean that the 3rd movie was done remarkably well? It was a lame piece of s**t that should've never been made in the first place. Please don't even think about making a 4th movie.

(Reply to this)

Sputnik99 writes:
on Jul 19 2007 04:51 PM

Superman 4, Alien Resurecction, Batman & Robin. What do all these movies have in common? They are all trilogy ruining movies that were the worst of the series and should never have been made.

And that is exactly what Terminator 4 will be. T3 ruined the Terminator storyline, and is leading to an Arnold-less fourth movie. T4 will join that list of quads that are considered failures.

When only the first couple movies in a series are considered the watchable ones, that series has failed. And that is exactly what Terminator is becoming. Because I never want to watch T3, and I doubt I'll have any interest in T4.

(Reply to this)

RexLaboro writes:
on Jul 19 2007 07:24 PM

Beating a good franchise into the ground isnt good, but even worse when a franchise relies on the shakey premise of TIME TRAVEL. It gets ridiculous real quick. Terminator3 was right on the border of destroying what had been built and you can feel the difference from Camrons film, with Arnold being this films ONLYfamiliar element. While I admire the ending of T3,it could have single-hadedly destroyed the franchise with its paint-by-numbers hot-cyborg terminator. They make the t3 half t1 and t2 and do the typical desperate villian trick: Use a woman. I think Indiana Jones is headed in this direction too with a Cruella Deville female villian. Either they're the female villian or the female enforcer who can fight (diehard, anyone?). I cant imagine what the terminator would be like in a 4th film... I really dont want to know. Transsexual transforming liquid vampire terminator?

(Reply to this)

frogleg writes:
on Jul 20 2007 05:33 AM

I didn't think 3 was great, but I didn't think it was horrible.
**SPOILER WARNING**
The best part about it was the end, when the war started while they were in the bunker. And that actually makes me look forward to a 4th one, Arnold or not. They don't need that specific Terminator. He's not integral to the story, and it would be easy to find other actors who could fill that role. Not terribly demanding. What they'll be losing is that iconic image, and that may hurt ticket sales, but I don't think it'll hurt movie quality. I've always wanted to see the Skynet war, so I actually hope this gets going at some point.

(Reply to this)

Mr. Kong writes:
on Jul 20 2007 05:40 AM

I personally think there is some potential for this movie. You remember how much Rocky Balboa didn't suck? We might get the same thing here.

(Reply to this)

Elixor writes:
on Jul 20 2007 05:52 AM

I thought T3 was going to be as bad as everybody seems to think it is and was surprised when it wasn't. T3 doesn't ruin anything, could t4? sure, but I don't see where everybody's problems with T3 stems from. If T4 takes place after Judgement Day and is more about the war between man and machines, then it could be the Terminator movie that I've been wanting ever since seeing T2 for the first time. Making another Terminator movie where they once again try to one-up the last Terminator with a more bad-*** one trying to kill people in present time would be a mistake. That's the only weak point I see in T3 (it followed T1 and T2's formula too much); otherwise, T3's story was solid and the ending was great. If they break from their typical formula in T4 and go with the story of the humans over-coming the machines with the war after judgement day, then it has some serious potential in my opinion. Arnold wouldn't be required or even make much sense for this movie.

Cameron would be perfect for a futuristic T4, but who knows how possible that is.

(Reply to this)