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PaperclipPerfector  1mo ago (text post)   1936 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for March 1, 2026

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Why do you think it is impossible to create good Terminator and Predator sequels past part 2 (I stand firm that predator 2 is underappreciated)

Well, first of all, your premise is wrong, because Branches on the Tree of Time exists. Now, granted, it's only a fanfic, but in principle there is no reason why it could not be filmed and become the best Terminator movie since Judgement Day.

Secondly, I am of the opinion that most sequels are bad, because they derail a complete, satisfying conclusion. The only thing that justifies a sequel is if the original is not so good, and the sequel is much better. Terminator 2 fits that description. Predator 2 does not.

Now, granted, it's only a fanfic, but in principle there is no reason why it could not be filmed and become the best Terminator movie since Judgement Day.

Sure there is: It completely ignores prime parts of the franchise's setup such as rewriting Sarah Connor's personality to a weirdo rationalist character so that the author can shoehorn his ideology into a familiar story as well as magically moving the story forward by 13 years.

Or to put it another way, it's not and cannot be a sequel. At best it would be a completely different story with terminators and a completely unfamiliar character who somehow shares a name with Sarah Connor.

There's one very obvious reason: you can't make Terminator films after it.

Because Hollywood is afraid of reboots or retcons?

The Terminator sequels were all hoping to set up a timeline they could squeeze/mine. That's why they usually have some sort of stinger or tease (IIRC Genisys had a tease with Arnold becoming a liquid metal Terminator which...ugh).

They simply failed every single time and had to reboot.

This is a one-and-done idea. That's fine for fanfiction but are you going to pay Arnold and Hamilton's likely extortionate fees in order to try to successfully end the Terminator franchise? Look at the MCU: a good ending can be its own curse.

are you going to pay Arnold and Hamilton's likely extortionate fees in order to try to successfully end the Terminator franchise?

I mean, Hamilton did help terminate the last series she showed up in...

I just happened to re-read it last week, and I agree that it's excellent, Wales at his best. It would probably make for a good movie.

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