We’ve heard a lot of talk that Terminator: Genisys will play with the timeline originally established by James Cameron in the first two films. Now, with Entertainment Weekly publishing the first proper looks at the new movie via its latest covers, there are also some intriguing story details to relate.
Naturally, we would caution that if you read ahead, you’re wandering into SPOILER TERRITORY, so be suitably advised. Genisys reportedly starts in 2029, with the war between the human rebels and Skynet’s malicious machines is in full swing. Present and correct – though played now by different actors – are John Connor (Jason Clarke) and Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) who are taking advantage of pushing back against the antagonistic artificial intelligence to send Reese to 1984 on his mission to save Sarah Connor from termination at the hands of a killer cyborg.
So far, so story as usual for the franchise. But when Reese makes it into the past, things are very different. Sarah Connor is not the same woman we met in The Terminator, played by Linda Hamilton. In an altered timeline, she’s portrayed by Emilia Clarke and is an antisocial recluse who has killer sniper skills, but little ability to interact with her fellow humans. And that’s because – twist alert! – she was orphaned at nine by a Terminator attack and has been living with an aging T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) as protector since then.
“Since she was nine, she has been told everything that was supposed to happen,” producer Megan Ellison tells the magazine. “But Sarah fundamentally rejects that destiny. She says, ‘That’s not what I want to do.’ It’s her decision that drives the story in a very different direction.”
According to co-star Matt Smith, who plays a still-unnamed comrade to Connor, the plan was to honour the franchise while bringing something fresh. “It’s like going on tour again if you’re Pink Floyd – the audience always wants to hear some of the old songs. There are enough nods to the past that people will feel satisfied.” For more about the movie, head to EW’s site.
Thor: The Dark World’s Alan Taylor directed the film, and it’ll be demanding your movie-going money on July 3 next year. Apparently one of the flesh-free Terminators appearing in the film is very happy to be in the thing – check out that grin…
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