‘Terminator Genisys 2’ pulled from Paramount’s 2017 schedule; Matt Smith optimistic about sequel

By Staff Writer | Feb 16, 2016 09:48 AM EST

'Terminator Genisys 2' is the second installment to the planned trilogy announced by Paramount. However, the studio pulled the sequel from its 2017 schedule of released. Matt Smith, who played a T-5000 embodiment of Skynet, remained optimistic about the second film pushing through.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Paramount Pictures removed the sequel from its scheduled release date for May 19, 2017 and is now considered indefinitely cancelled. The move wasn't considered a surprise as its predecessor, 'Terminator Genisys', earned $440 million at the box office and was received with with negative reviews. The new May 2017 slot is now occupied by the upcoming big-screen adaptation of 'Baywatch' starring Zac Efron, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Alexandra Daddario.

Media outlet ERC Box Office suggested that Paramount may be looking to put the sequel in another date and is not actually "pulling the plug" on the planned trilogy. However, 'Terminator Genisys 3', which was previously in development, is noted to have been "shutdown" as of January 20, 2016, according to Movie Insider. No official confirmation has been made regarding the status of the two subsequent films.

Paramount previously announced its planned trilogy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Emilia Clarke before the premiere of 'Terminator Genisys' in June 22, 2015. The sequels were originally scheduled to be released sometime in 2017 and 2018. As of 2019, the rights to the franchise will be reverted back to James Cameron.

The first film in the then-planned trilogy is intended as the fifth installment in the science-fiction and action franchise created by Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd in the 1980s. The central premise of the entire series is the battle of survival between the human race and powerful synthetic intelligence called Skynet. The 'Genisys' reboot went back in time to focus on a young Sarah Connor, who was raised by the Guardian.

Schwarzenegger and Clarke were joined by Jai Courtney, Lee Byung-hun, Jason Clarke, J.K. Simmons and Matt Smith. Smith played Alex, an advanced T-5000 terminator who served as the physical embodiment of Skynet. According to Den of Geek, Smith signed on for three more 'Terminator' films.

When the actor was asked about the cancellation of the sequel, he replied that he didn't know it was going to happen. He said, "You know what films are like... You've got to make one if you are going to make the other. I entered it with that in mind, to see what would happen next. Yeah, it's news to me that that's the case. But, who knows? You never know. It may get picked up in the future".

'Terminator Genisys 2' is the second installment to the planned trilogy announced by Paramount. It is intended as the sixth installment in the science-fiction action franchise created by James Cameron and may feature the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger as Guardian/The Terminator and Emilia Clarke as Sarah Connor.

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