James Cameronis one of the most prolific sci-fi directors of all time. His films are unique in that they are both formative works in the sci-fi genre and unbelievable box-office hits. Of the top five highest-grossing films of all time, three weredirected by Cameron. While one of these isTitanic, theother two are both the movies released so far in his technologically groundbreakingAvatarseries.
Avataris not Cameron’s only notable sci-fi work. Starting in the 1980s, hehelmed bothThe TerminatorandTerminator 2: Judgment Day,the latter of which has especially gained notoriety in the sci-fi world. He also directedAliens, which is looked at as one of the great sci-fi sequels of all time.
WhileAvataris still very much Cameron’s baby,both theAlienandTerminatorfranchiseshave continued without the director taking the front seat. As the filmmaker continues his career, there is one sci-fi franchise that he should feel particularly compelled to return to.
What James Cameron Has Said About Terminator 7
He Has Been Working On Scripts
Cameron has openly spoken aboutdevelopingTerminator 7. While he teased ideas for another installment for a while, a more concrete update was given in 2023. Cameron revealed at a Dell Tech World conference that he had started writingTerminator 7a few months prior. At the time, he said thathe wanted to see how things were shaping up with AI in the real world before moving forward on the project.
In August 2024, Cameron provideda cryptic update on theTerminator 7script. He called his work “totally classified,” but noted that he was working on his own installment thathad nothing to do with the Netflix animated seriesTerminator Zero.Cameron didn’t confirm the extent of his directorial involvement inTerminator 7. He is penning the film’s script, or at least significantly helping with the story development.
Terminator 7 Should Only Happen If James Cameron Directs It
The Franchise Needs Him Back
Cameron is not just a boost to theTerminatorfranchise; he is a deal-breaker. The series went on a 12-year hiatus afterJudgment Day,but it was never the same without Cameron.
Some of the post-Cameron films haven’t been critically strong. This includesTerminator Salvation(33% Tomatometer) andTerminator Genisys(26% Tomatometer). WhileTerminator: Dark Fategot decent reviews, the franchise has continually proven that it is better when attached to Cameron.
100%
89%
91%
95%
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines(2003)
70%
46%
33%
53%
26%
52%
82%
The director’s statement about waiting to see how the future of AI is shaping up before fleshing outTerminator 7is also a testament to how deeply he reflects on sci-fi writing.Cameron is the right kind of thinker to take on the next movie in the franchise, and his track record proves that he is the right fit.
Avatar Movies May Prevent James Cameron From Making Terminator 7
His Schedule Will Be Busy
Even with Cameron’s interest in the franchise, theAvatarfranchise could prevent him from contributing toTerminator 7. Right now, he is in the post-production process and will soon be in thepress cycle forAvatar: Fire and Ash. This will be fairly all-consuming as these movies are long and involved.
Right now, these films are set for release in December 2029 and 2031, but even with some breaks, there are years-long endeavors that will be time-consuming for Cameron.
Assuming all goes well with theAvatarthreequel,Cameron still hasAvatar 4andAvatar 5coming down the pipeline. Right now, these films are set for release in December 2029 and 2031, but even with some breaks, there are years-long endeavors that will be time-consuming for the acclaimed filmmaker.
Cameron also recently announced a new project, which wouldbe an adaptation of the Joe Abercrombie fantasy novelThe Devils. This will reportedly be produced after the release ofAvatar 3.
Both this film and theAvatarprojects are likely to pull Cameron away fromTerminator 7, or at minimum, significantly delay the project. This makes it look less likely that he will end up helming the AI sci-fi film.
Avatar Is Great, But Cameron’s Terminator 7 Would Be Even Better
Terminator Helped Cameron’s Career Tremendously
Don’t get me wrong, I loveAvatar. I’m as excited about these next movies as I could be. After all, the franchise has already made over $5 billion and stunned audiences with its advanced CGI and other technology in the process. IfFire and Ashand its successors continue the franchise’s current strength, theAvatarmovies could go down as one of the best sci-fi franchises of all time.
However,I still thinkTerminator 7would be a great chance for Cameron to restore one of the franchises that put him on the map.In turn, he could help revive the franchise after some negative entries have rocked this century. As evidenced by the high-qualityTerminator Zero, stories in the universe can feel timely, compelling, and emotional.
Imbuing environmentalist themes in theAvatarmovies, Cameron is also well-versed in creating fantastical worlds that speak to the current moment. There is no better opportunity to show what he is made of than withTerminator 7. The franchise needs him to keep surviving (and thriving), and he should prioritize it if he can find the time.
