Terminator: Genesis Plot Details Indicate More Original Characters Could Show Up

By Brent McKnight | Updated

This article is more than 2 years old

TerminatorBecause no franchise, no matter how finished it may seem, is ever truly, completely, irrefutably dead in Hollywood, we’re getting a new addition to the Terminator, with Terminator: Genesis. Due out in 2015, we already know that we’re going to see some, if not familiar faces, at least some returning characters. Sarah Connor, John Connor, and Kyle Reese are all back, though played by different actors. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s iconic T-800 will also be along for the ride, but a new report says that even more original characters could make an appearance, and reveals some possible plot details as well.

A reliable source has told the folks over at Movie Hole that Genesis, directed by Thor: The Dark World’s Alan Taylor, will take place in at least three distinct eras, and that time travel will play a large role in the action. The story will go down in 1984, the year of James Cameron’s original Terminator; 1995, when T2: Judgment Day is set; as well as some unspecified time in the future, though you can be sure it’s after the machines have taken over and made us all their slaves. These are all said to be, “important and influential time periods in the life of the Connor family.”

Game of Thrones star Emilia Clark will play Sarah Connor, Jason Clark, no relation, plays her son John, and Jai Courtney will take over Michael Biehn’s Reese role. In addition to these characters you already know, some of the smaller players from the franchise are also coming back. Sarah’s roommate Ginger, played by Bess Motta in the original, will make an appearance, as will Detective Hal Vukovich (Lance Henriksen) and Lieutenant Ed Traxler (Paul Winfield in 1984). Apparently even the iguana, Pugsley, is slated to return. Let’s hope that this film turns out a little better for all of them than the first time around.

Genesis will revisit the events of the first two movies, which apparently includes Arnold’s naked arrival in the past and his confrontation with a punk rockers, one of whom was Bill Paxton in 1984. I hope they get him to reprise his role; that would be amazing. The events are going to play out like they did—lots of dead Sarah Connors, Reese also going back in time—up to a point, when things go different. One great thing about movies that involve time travel is that by changing events in the past, you alter the future, and have a near unlimited set of options and potential story lines to play with.

The new film will also return to the events of the sequel, with the shape-shifting T-1000, and a teenage John Connor. Again, the story will unfold as before, up to a certain time, where things will diverge. Mixed in with these eras you will also see other, as yet unseen moments in the life of the Connor clan, though what that means we’ll have to wait to see. Perhaps something goes wrong, and changes the future in some serious goes wrong, but there are so, so many possibilities that it’s hard to even speculate at this point.

Terminator: Genesis is scheduled to begin filming this summer in Atlanta and New Orleans, and will open on July 1, 2015.