Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines Release
Date: July 4th, 2003 (estimated; the 4th is a Friday in 2003; WB may actually go for a five-day opener, starting on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2002)
Title Note: The title might be abbreviated on some posters as T-3: Rise of the Machines.
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Shaquille O'Neal (in talks); other cast not yet announced. (12/15/01) Columnists Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith report that Edward Furlong has been let go, with a replacement for his role as John Connor being sought. There were recent British reports that Edward Norton was cast in the role, but this was most likely just someone confusing their names
Definitely Not Returning: Linda Hamilton (Sarah Connor)
Director: Jonathan Mostow (Breakdown, U-571) (in talks)
Screenwriters: Tedi Sarafian (Tank Girl, The Road Killers); rewrite by John Brancato and Michael Ferris (writing team of The Game, The Net)
Based upon: This movie is of course a sequel to 1984's
Terminator, following also 1991's T2: Judgement Day; and to be followed by
Terminator 4.
Premises: This third film will tell the tale of the first battles between humans and the artificial intellgences of the SkyNet network. John Connor (played by Edward Furlong in the 2nd movie) will be the star. (7/12/00) The advanced android that Schwarzenegger will be going up against will be female this time around. (11/20/00) Arnold told The New York Post that the female cyborg will have several new powers, like being able to disappear, mold into someone else, or even turn into an energy form. (11/30/00) Famke Janssen is in talks to play that advanced female android. (5/22/01) The producers are continuing to tweak the script, with word from USA Today that the famale cyborg might now be a "good guy", and the villain would be a male (Vin Diesel was mentioned as a possibility). (7/18/01) Vin Diesel may have signed on for that role. (12/3/01) Michael Fleming confirms that the villain is still a female cyborg, and that the story is set 10 years after T2, as Connor and his cyborg buddy fight off the all-new, all-dangerous T-model. (12/15/01) A replacement for Edward Furlong is being sought.
Filming: (1/4/01) Previously scheduled to start production in the spring of 2001, Michael Fleming of Variety now reports that it will be pushed back to some point in late 2001. One filming location will be Montreal. (8/8/01) Fleming now reports that Schwarzenegger is eyeing a November start date for a comedy project called Ump, which pushes this project back to a start in early 2002. (10/15/01) Columnists Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith report that filming has now been pushed back to summer, 2002 due to additional script work. (11/21/01) Michael Fleming reports that the budget is estimated to be $160 million, topping the record previously held by Pearl Harbor, for highest-ever greenlit budget (other films have soared higher after they get a greenlight... and indeed, this film might, as well). (12/3/01) Variety reports that the "greenlight budget" is most likely to be closer to $170 million. Also, the expected production start date has now been narrowed down to April, 2002.
Genres: Action, Eye Candy, Science Fiction, Sequel, Thriller