In an interview with The Guardian, Cameron reflects on how the science-fiction genre has changed since his early Terminator films, and how this is largely due to the way real-world technology has vastly accelerated and transformed society in only a few decades. He is candid about some of his earlier work in the genre not standing the test of time due to these real-world changes, while acknowledging the movie that has aged well. Cameron also discusses how these ongoing changes make it difficult to develop a truly relevant and compelling story for Terminator 7. Check out his comments below:
People pay the compliment, “Oh, it still holds up.” I actually think that’s true of Terminator 2 qualitatively. I think Terminator 1 qualitatively is pretty obsolete, although story-wise it’s still pretty intriguing. There’s some interest around this idea that it was a bit prescient on certain things, like the emergence of AI, the potential existential threat of AI, which is transforming our world before our eyes.
We’re at a point right now where it gets harder and harder to write science fiction because we’re living in a science fiction world on a day-to-day basis. I’m working through some of the themes that I want to bring into a new Terminator film or possibly even a kind of a reboot of a larger story framework, and it’s difficult right now because I want to let the smoke clear on the whole thing. That’s going to be a ride that we’re going to be watching for probably the rest of human history, but certainly the next few years are going to be quite telling.
Other Genres & Stories Face A Similar Challenge
It Affects More Than Just Sci-Fi
The Terminator franchise is not alone in the challenge of creating stories that can still work in light of real-world events and transformations. Netflix’s upcoming dystopian film Uglies, adapted from the 2005 novel of the same name, featured a type of technology where the Uglies could see what they would look like as Pretties, a technology that was reminiscent of Instagram filters years before Instagram was created. If this technology is incorporated into the film adaptation, it will no longer feel futuristic the way it did nearly two decades ago.
As Cameron continues to develop Terminator 7, he can first prioritize its themes and commentary, knowing that these elements can be timeless, even if the science-fiction technology in the story becomes quickly outdated.
Outside of science-fiction and dystopian stories, political dramas and satires have struggled at times given the increasingly divisive nature of real-world politics. Shonda Rhimes has spoken about cutting certain storylines from the hit ABC series Scandal because they were too similar to real-life events that transpired as the show was being made. Prime Video’s The Boys has also found itself at times being eerily prescient despite the exaggerated nature of its satire, although this has arguably helped the series.
While technology will inevitably become outdated in certain stories, the themes and commentary are what can endure, which is partly why Terminator 2 still works so well. As Cameron continues to develop Terminator 7, he can first prioritize its themes and commentary, knowing that these elements can be timeless, even if the science-fiction technology in the story becomes quickly outdated. The Avatar franchise will likely keep Cameron busy for the time being, but it will be intriguing to see what he comes up with, and how Terminator 7 can be different from every Terminator film before it.
