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Genre: Action/Science Fiction. Studio: Unknown. Twentieth Century Fox now reportedly is passing on the follow-up. Production Company: Unknown. Project Phase: Movies Rumored. Who's In It: The principals from Terminator 2: Judgement Day would probably be involved: Arnold Schwarzennegger; Linda Hamilton; Edward Furlong; Robert Patrick. Who's Making It: Gale Anne Hurd owns 50% of the rights to the franchise, so she'll probably be involved in a producing capacity again. Producer Andy Vajna has bid on the remaining rights. Premise: Unknown. Release Date: Unknown. Speculated for a possible Summer 1999 release. Developments: Late October, 1997... Andy Vajna aquires 50% of the rights to the Terminator franchise in a bankrupcy auction. Early October, 1997... Variety reports that due to runaway costs both James Cameron and Twentieth Century Fox will no longer be involved in the next sequel. Mid September, 1997... Carolco producer Andy Vajna has bid a minimum $7.5 million to purchase the Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgement Day prequel/sequel and film/television rights. Comments: Small pieces of interesting gossip are starting to form. See Scoop Feedback. Rumors: Unknown. Scoop Feedback: June 17, 1996... ": Has been confirmed by Cameron and other Hollywood execs... Probably will not enter serious development until 98 or 99... Current word is NO Schwarzenegger, but this is unconfirmed. Word is that it might possibly have a new Terminator or reprise the role of T-1000000, which is seen in the T2 ride at Universal currently." Cameron has not confirmed his involvement with any T3, mearly hinted at his interest in such a project. [Scoop submitted anonymously.] July 4, 1996... This scoop reporter hears a rumor that has People magazine mentioning a blurb about this project being considered for development. Cameron may be commencing development as soon as Titanic wraps. But the annoucement of Avatar, could this development turn out to dispell the T3 rumors after all? [Scoop provided by 'shape'.] September 11, 1996... Another fellow has heard rumors about a T3 project shaping up after Titanic. [Scoop provided by 'Lumiere'.] September 24, 1996... In a recent issue of Film Review magazine, Arnold Schwarzenneger was discussing the shooting of Terminator 2 3-D. As he spoke of it, he stated very clearly that he was looking forward to "the new installment" after finishing his role as Mr. Freeze in the new Batman and Robin movie. He said that, after Terminator 2, Jim Cameron and all said they'd never go back to it, but after completing the Universal Studios ride, they were very anxious to carve out another sequel, with all the same crew on board. [Scoop submitted anonymously; originally appeared in Film Review magazine.] October 6, 1996... A rumor has been heard on small entertainment radio and televison programs, and repeated on some 'net locales, that Arnold Schwarzennegger has accepted a $45 million dollar paycheck for T3. Coming Attractions has received no information that confirms the rumor. Also, with Cameron busy in production on Titanic and Warner Brothers' paying Schwarzennegger $25 mil plus additional revenues for his Mr. Freeze roll, it's highly unlikely that any discussion has happened - yet. We predict that it'll be another 6 months before any gossip turns into solid leads. [Scoops provided by a number of sources and scoop informants.] This scooper hears that the story may revolve around the damaged T-800 arm left behind in the gear machinery. [Scoop reported by Sean P. Gormally.] October 4, 1996... This fellow hears the T3 rumor on a early Oct '96 Irish movie review show hosted by Dave Fannings - The Movie Show. [Scoop provided anonymously.] February 2, 1997... We hung onto this rumor to see if it would be followed up on, either by other scoopers or by the media, but it never panned out. The story goes that an employee of Fox confirmed that Arnold Schwarzennegger signed a contract to star in T3 on December 20, 1996. Details were not given. If this did indeed occur, it's been ultra-secret - and why would Fox keep it so? [Scoop supplied by 'GWL'.] March 4, 1997... Some chatter overheard from no specific sources have Fox hoping for a T3 film to be released in the summer of 1999. In a perfect world, of course. [Scoop replayed by Christian and other sources.] September 21, 1997... Carolco producer Andy Vajna (producer of Die Hard With a Vengence and Total Recall) has bid a minimum $7.5 million to purchase 50% of the rights for Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgement Day prequel/sequel and film/television future projects. The court-authorized auction is set to go sometime within the next six weeks. Terminator producer Gale Anne Hurd owns the other remaining 50% of the franchise. The sale would need to win approval in U.S. Bankruptcy Court after the auction is held that would allow anyone else interested in outbidding Vajna the right to make an offer. With Vajna's sizable bid on the franchise, it's a good sign to Terminator fans that someone somewhere is planning to do something. But as one anonymous scooper asks, "What I'm wondering is, does having a possible TV sequel/prequel disrupt any plans for the upcoming Terminator 3?" Or is Vajna simply wanting to get in on the better-than-average chance that a T3 is wanted by Fox in the wake of Cameron's Titanic epic? [With help from Christian, 'jkaminski', Jeff, Mike Smith, 'dumbdog' and anonymously.] October 7, 1997... Trade magazine Variety reports that both Twentieth Century Fox and James Cameron will not pursue their interest in creating another Terminator film. The magazine reports that both parties hesitate to get involved because the costs alone for the project's start-up - before even one foot of film has been shot - would be astronomically huge. This leaves in doubt the next step of the project, since Andrew Vajna's minimum $7.5 million bid for 50% of the film rights is due to be paid for at the October 14 bankruptcy auction of Carolco's half-share. Will anyone else bid on the property? This pre-auction announcement could be simply to see if Vajna gets cold feet when faced with a possible goose egg. Gale Anne Hurd, producer of the first Terminator film and owner of the remaining 50% of the film rights, reportedly discussed Cameron's decision over the past weekend, and he refused to change his mind. This does not leave out the possibility that a new studio will aquire the franchise and develop its own sequel, but the chances of securing most, if not all, of the stars of the series would be dubious at best. Although Rae Sanchini, the president of Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment, said that the director had given his blessing for the remaining others interested in the property to pursue developing it, word is Arnold Schwarzenegger would not do the film without the involvement of Cameron. [Information sent to us by 'Rizzo', Christian, 'John Conner', Ernie T., 'osumartin', 'Baca350lb', John K., 'Ruok', 'Duncan MacCleod', 'mhilton', 'usc0dave' and anonymously.] One of our scoopers had this to say about the latest development: "Seems to me that if they announce a Terminator sequel, people will think Titantic is bad and the production companies involved will take a huge hit. Instead, they'll go full steam ahead with Titanic and discuss Terminator 3 at some point after that. Do you really think they will not cash in on the prospect of a third film? The money is there around the world and people want to see it." [Submitted by John K.] This move by Fox and Cameron to announce their intention before the auction would place Vajna in an awkward position. He's committed himself to a minimum bid of $7.5 mil with Cameron and Fox definately out, Schwarzenegger unlikely to return and Linda Hamilton...well, she's Jim's wife for Pete's sake! Vajna could find himself owning one-half of a dead franchise, with the other half owned by Jim's ex-wife. Suddenly the phrase 'caught between a rock and a hard place' leaps to mind... Let's face it: no one wants to see a T3 without Sarah Connor, without our favorite T-800 or without James Cameron's blessing. Fox and Cameron may be simply playing hardball, or they may simply be telling the truth and don't want to get involved in what appears to be an already-escalating power play over who gets what and for how much. Many of the scoopers felt that this appeared to be a heavy blow to the likelihood of seeing a T3 anytime in the near future. October 26, 1997... Former Carolco producer Andy Vajna has aquired 50% of the Terminator franchise rights. Last week the rights went up on auction, where Vajna had already placed a minimum $7.5 million bid on them beforehand. Only Miramax studio head Bob Weinstein outbid Vajna, forcing the latter to eventually up his bid to $8 million. Now, what happens next? [Reported by Patrick Sauriol.]
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