"Terminator: Genisys," the fifth installment in the "Terminator" film series, doesn't open in theaters until next year, but Paramount Pictures has already mapped two sequels to it and set release dates for them.
The film studio announced Friday, Sept. 5, that the first sequel to "Terminator: Genisys" will hit cinemas on May 19, 2017, while the second one will open on June 29, 2018, The Wrap reported.
The first sequel, being called "Terminator 2" for now, will be released one week after the opening of a yet-to-be titled Marvel Studios film, which is probably either "Inhumans" or "Thor 3," according to Screen Rant. "Terminator 3," on the other hand, will hit the theaters one week before another currently-untitled Marvel Studios film is due for release.
"Terminator: Genisys" is directed by Alan Taylor ("Thor: The Dark World") from a script written by Laeta Kalogridis ("Shutter Island") and Patrick Lussier ("Scream"). Arnold Schwarzenegger reprises his role as the Terminator known as the T-800. "Game of Thrones" star Emilia Clarke plays Sarah Connor and "Zero Dark Thirty's" Jason Clarke portrays Sarah's time-traveling future son John Connor. "Divergent" actor Jai Courtney is also part of the cast. He plays Kyle Reese, John's father.
Setting two sequels ahead of the release of "Terminator: Genisys" means that Paramount is extremely confident with the new trilogy. The franchise reached its high point in 1991, when "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" grossed $204 million domestically and $519 million worldwide, according to Moviepilot.
Its third installment "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," however, only grossed $150 million domestically and $433 million worldwide, probably because it was released 12 years after the first sequel.
"Terminator Salvation," the fourth film in the saga, only earned $125 million in the US and $371 million worldwide. It was headlined by Christian Bale and Sam Worthington, and Schwarzenegger was not part of the cast. The movie's disappointing performance at the box office might also be caused by the fact that it was released six years after the third installment.