Terminator Sold! New Trilogy Planned?
Today is surprising day in the Terminator world. Franchise owners Mario Kassar and Andy Vajna have SOLD the rights to the movies! Reportedly tired of waiting for something to happen, the pair, who head C-2 Pictures have completely relinquished their rights to the frnachise! DarkHorizons reported the following today:
After much talk and posturing over the future of "The Terminator " franchise in recent years, something surprising has happened - producers Mario Kassar and Andy Vajna have given up their baby.
The Halcyon Company has acquired the franchise rights to the popular "The Terminator" movie series and intend to make a new trilogy that would anchor their movie company.
"Terminator 4" will be based on a script by John Brancato and Michael Ferris (writers of "Terminator 3"), and Halcyon plans to immediately begin preproduction on the film with the hope of a Summer 2009 release.
Neither creator James Cameron or original star Arnold Schwarzenegger will be involved in the project, which picks up with John Connor in his 30's leading what's left of the human race against the machines.
The deal includes the right to produce any future "Terminator" projects in any format (film, TV , etc.). It also includes all future merchandising and licensing rights, and certain rights to the upcoming TV series "The Sarah Connor Chronicles."
GA says:
Well, what to think of this? A new Terminator movie would be great, but we really want Arnold to be a part of it! Even if it's just a smaller role, no Terminator movie would be complete without the man himself!
What worries us though, is the fact that Halcyon wish to use the franchise to bolster their company. Does this mean that they're going to pack out 3 new movies, without any original cast or crew member just so they can make some money and line their pockets?! No thank you!
We also managed to dig this up: The Halcyon Company is a recently formed, privately financed, film development, production and financing company, headed by co-CEOs Derek Anderson and Victor Kubicek.
"The Terminator franchise represents by far the most popular and successful franchise not owned by a major studio," said Mr. Kubicek. "While we have several other projects in the works, we see this global franchise as a cornerstone of Halcyon's future business plans."
Moritz Borman, the Executive Producer of T3: Rise of the Machines as well as the then-CEO of Intermedia Films (the co-production financial partner for T3), is slated to produce the new Terminator 4 film as well as being an integral member of the branding and licensing team.
Kubicek and Anderson will co-produce. Moritz Borman stated, "With T3, we included many incidental details and plot points that, along with the main narrative, set the stage for an entirely new set of inter-related stories covering the future adventures of John Connor and the Terminators. This new Terminator trilogy will build upon the already huge worldwide Terminator fan base, which was both revitalized and expanded with the global success of T3."
Anderson said, "We also plan to maximize the potential of the Terminator franchise by entering into strategic relationships with world class merchandising and licensing partners. By quickly pursuing and finalizing these new opportunities, we are confident that all of these ventures can be completed in time to fully maximize their value by coinciding with the first of the new Terminator's release."
Anderson continued, "In addition to Moritz Borman, Peter D. Graves, who will be an Executive Producer on the film, was an integral part of the acquisition team. He will also continue to provide executive consulting services to The Halcyon Company as well as spearhead all aspects of the Terminator marketing program. Alan Schwartz, Randy Paul and Vincent Chieffo of Greenberg Traurig represented Halcyon in the transaction and were critical to its successful completion. Alan Schwartz and the Greenberg Traurig firm will continue to provide ongoing legal counsel to The Halcyon Company."
The most recent film of the multi-billion dollar Terminator franchise, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, was released domestically by Warner Bros. Pictures and internationally (excluding Japan and Korea) by Sony Pictures. This film generated over $450 million in worldwide box office, breaking numerous box office records around the world. The film went on to even greater success in its ancillary markets worldwide.
Until 2005 Borman was Chairman and CEO of Intermedia Films, which he took public in 2000. Peter D. Graves is one of the top industry marketing consultants. Formerly President of Marketing for PolyGram Films, Graves has been directly responsible for, or consulted on, the marketing and release of over 200 titles including Terminator 3; The Perfect Storm; Braveheart; Fargo; The Score; Elizabeth; The Game; Dead Man Walking; The Usual Suspects; and Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Read more at ComingSoon.Net.
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