August 26, 2025, 3:45 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Since the first installment in 1984, the “Terminator” series has been one of Hollywood’s major sci-fi franchises. There are six parts so far, but the chances for “Terminator 7” currently don’t look good.
It’s been six years since the last theatrical release, “Terminator: Dark Fate.” Not much has happened on the film front since then. However, it’s not due to a lack of motivation to continue the stories about time-traveling killer robots. According to franchise creator James Cameron (“Aliens,” “Titanic,” “Avatar”), he is working on a new installment. But it’s becoming increasingly difficult.
The “Terminator” Future Draws Nearer
The “Terminator” films are fundamentally about robots traveling through time to change the fate of humanity. Some aim to ensure that machines, led by the malevolent supercomputer Skynet, can rise in the future. Others strive to prevent this. It involves machines and adaptive artificial intelligences—sounds somewhat familiar.
Our technological progress has now reached a point where much of what was once considered science fiction has either already become reality or at least sounds less futuristic. AI, drones, humanoid robots, or chatbots that can mimic voices already exist. And this is causing Cameron headaches for “Terminator 7.”
“Terminator 7” Difficult to Implement Due to Present Reality
In a conversation with CNN (starting at 08:10 minutes), the Oscar-winning filmmaker revealed that he is indeed writing “Terminator 7,” but he doesn’t know how to tell a story that is overtaken by reality. “We are currently living in a science fiction era,” he said.
The only way out is to use human intelligence, curiosity, and our command over technologies. At the same time, humanity should be aware of the serious possibilities that may come its way.
Cameron has not yet disclosed how he plans to overcome the creative challenge for “Terminator 7.” However, in a “Empire” interview from 2024, he hinted that for a new film, one must say goodbye to the familiar iconography, including the well-known stars. Instead, new and diverse stories must be told “in the AI apocalypse.” Otherwise, there’s a risk of getting lost in increasingly detailed narratives that many no longer find interesting.