Published at 10:17 AM on July 8, 2008

By Henry Freedland

Terminator Salvation cast continues to evolve

There's a strange sort of morale over at the set of Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, scheduled for release in 2009. Helmed by director McG (of The O.C.- and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle-producing fame), the James Cameron-founded franchise features Christian Bale as hero John Connor, Australian actor Sam Worthington as a friend (or maybe foe) and rapper Common as a friend (we think).

Mysteries envelop the film's production. "By the way," McG writes in his production blog, "there are only three people who know the ending. The unknown future rolls toward us."

But as principal photography on the film continues on location in New Mexico ("The New Mexico wind is kicking the shit out of the crew but providing a perfect backdrop for our post-apocalyptic world," declares McG), small pieces of light protrude through the dark shrouds of secrecy.

For instance, we know now that the film is set several years after Judgement Day, but before 2029. There are Hydrobots that patrol the water, Transports that move humans around and Harvesters that collect them as lab rats (Matrix, anyone?). The film also may or may not include a cameo from past Terminator-gone-California-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

And a critically agreeable kind of news came recently, with word that Academy Award-nominated actress Helena Bonham Carter is in talks with the studio for an undisclosed role that insiders describe as small but pivotal.

As long as no robots break down our doors first, we'll keep you updated with more Terminator news as it develops. Until then, let those simple machines know who's the boss of them, and watch out for naked bodies falling from the sky.

Related links:
Terminator Salvation on IMDb
McG's production blog for Terminator Salvation
Helena Bonham Carter on IMDb

Got news tips for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.

2 Comments

Click to leave a comment.