Terminator Zero creator Mattson Tomlin explains how the animated series fits into the complicated continuity of the franchise’s world-changing conflict. Set in Japan, the Netflix anime sees a scientist become the target of the familiar skeletal killing machines as his advanced AI could shift the scales and avert Judgement Day as we know it. With Timothy Olyphant taking on the role of the T-800, Tomlin was joined by Bleach character designer Masashi Kudo to bring the sci-fi franchise into a new medium.

While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Tomlin opened up about how his installment fits within the wider narrative of the Terminator universe. He wanted to shift the focus away from John Connor-centered conflicts without negating any previous installments and craft his own tale that could fit past movies. Check out Tomlin’s explanation below:

We’ve had six Terminator movies, and they’ve all taken place on the U.S.-Mexico border. Rewatching them, there’s mention of nuclear strikes coming from Russia, but there’s very little about what’s going on in the rest of the world. There have been so many of the Terminator sequels that have said, “Just pay attention to these movies and ignore those.” And I don’t feel comfortable being that guy, because I don’t feel like I’m better or smarter than those who have come before me. And I think that there’s something good in all of the movies. I’m kind of like, “I’m just over here in my little animated pocket on the other side of the world, and I don’t need to negate anything.” And so that kind of really freed me up to then go, okay, so what is the story I do want to tell?”

Where Does Terminator Zero Fit Into The Wider Terminator Timelines?

Terminator Zero Sets A New Franchise-Wide Status Quo.

The Terminator franchise has had several in-universe reboots. While the first four movies form a mostly cohesive Terminator timeline while adhering to the inevitability of Judgement Day, its spin-off TV series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles established alternate timelines, and Terminator: Genysis and Terminator: Dark Fate would set out new continuities. Though the two most recent movies chose this to return to the popularity and familiarity of the franchise’s peak, it has nevertheless added to a growing list of alternate realities. Terminator Zero would use this framework in its story.

However, Prophet (Ann Dowd) clarifies to Resistance fighter Eiko (Sonoya Mizuno) that her journey to protect the rogue soldier Malcolm Lee (Andre Holland) will create a new timeline, not change her present.

Though Terminator Zero‘s timeline focuses on the originally predicted 1997 Judgement Day specified in Terminator 2: Judgement Day, its story is removed from the Connor family, as one lone Resistance soldier travels back to create a perfect AI system to halt the inevitable Skynet. However, Prophet (Ann Dowd) clarifies to Resistance fighter Eiko (Sonoya Mizuno) that her journey to protect the rogue soldier Malcolm Lee (Andre Holland) will create a new timeline, not change her present. As such, a firm explanation has now been established for every past installment’s existence.

With James Cameron returning to the franchise in some capacity for a secretive Terminator 7 project, the continuity may yet change again. But Tomlin’s work in Terminator: Zero not only allows the franchise’s previous efforts to be part of a greater singular narrative but returns to the looping cycle of events that the original movie established. Specifically, Judgement Day is inevitable, but humanity will rise up and resist. As such, the franchise’s anime spin-off may leave viewers with an all-new perspective on the franchise.