It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. And it absolutely will not stop, ever...Yes, we're talking about the procession of Terminator sequels.
With the fourth installment in the blockbuster sci-fi series still only available in trailer form, producers are already promising to be back with yet another in the unkillable cyborg saga.
The brain trust announced at the Dubai International Film Festival that Christan Bale will return as civilization's savior John Connor in what is hoped to be the middle chapter of a new trilogy that will begin with the release of Terminator: Salvation on May 22, 2009.
According to Variety, Salvation helmer McG is also involved in plotting the sequel; but no word if costars Sam Worthington, Bryce Dallas Howard, Common or Helena Bonham Carter will also reprise their roles—of course, whether they do or don't would be a major spoiler alert. The newly announced follow-up film would presumably hit theaters in 2011 and the finale likely to arrive in 2013.
In the meantime, another venerable sci-fi series is getting ready to reboot...
The Full Monty show-off Robert Carlyle has signed on to play the lead in the Sci Fi Channel's Stargate Universe, per The Hollywood Reporter.
The third of the Stargate series, which aims to be grittier than its predecessors, follows a team of military, scientific and civilian types who go through a stargate, wind up on a mysterious ancient ship halfway across the universe and must find their way home.
Sci Fi has committed to 20 episodes of the series, which begins shooting in February in Vancouver. Stargate Universe will launch with a two-hour premiere next summer.
Also on the geek radar:
• Already planning a prequel to I Am Legend, Will Smith is now, per the New York Post, looking to do a Hancock follow-up as soon as costar Charlize Theron agrees to come aboard.
• Stephen Norrington, the effects whiz turned helmer whose 2003 The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen helped pushed Sean Connery into retirement, has been tapped to reimagine The Crow, the 1994 flick based on the cult-classic comic book.
• Whoopi Goldberg is set to topline and exec produce the sci-fi miniseries Stream, about a woman confronting her worst fears. Stream will unfold in five-minute weekly segments exclusively online at Fearnet.com and video on demand starting Jan. 15.