Arnold Schwarzenegger's return in "Terminator Genisys" was supposed to kickstart a new trilogy of films in the franchise after the recast characters undid the franchise's timeline as we knew it. However, that plan may no longer be in place.
"Genisys" failed to generate the same critical buzz as the first two films and, more importantly, the same type of box office numbers. The latter is what will ultimately decide the future of the time-hopping franchise. In this case, there really is no fate but what the movie makes for itself.
"We will definitely need to see the holds globally to confirm that people like the film," a Paramount insider told The Hollywood Reporter.
"Genisys," directed by "Game of Thrones" alum Alan Taylor, carried a $155 million budget (excluding marketing and promotion). To date, it has earned $278 million worldwide but just $81 million domestic. If the increasingly significant markets of China and other global regions can push its international total past $400 million when all is said and done then a sequel may be earned. But if not, well, Arnie won't be back.
The film's lukewarm performance puts Paramount into a wait-and-see approach. Some films, like last year's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," outperform expectations and have a sequel green-lit by the close of opening weekend. Others, like Guillermo del Toro's "Pacific Rim," disappoint at the domestic box office but make enough globally that a second installment is eventually given the go-ahead. Such is the case with "Terminator."
Paramount's initial plan was to drop "Genisys" this summer and follow up with sequels in 2017 and 2018. The rights to the franchise revert back to series creator James Cameron in 2019, so the studio is pretty much under the gun at this point. It will be interesting to see how it chooses to proceed from this point forward.
