James Cameron says Schwarzenegger won’t return for next Terminator film; focuses on new generation and Avatar progress
Cameron tells The Hollywood Reporter that Arnold Schwarzenegger is finished as the T-800 for now, signaling a new direction for the franchise while he advances plans for a seventh Terminator and continues work on Avatar.
James Cameron says Arnold Schwarzenegger will not return for another Terminator movie. In remarks tied to his appearance at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event and in a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Cameron said it’s time for a new generation of characters and a broader take on the franchise. He indicated he intends to direct a seventh Terminator film, but only after finishing current work on Avatar. Once the dust clears on Avatar in a couple of months, Cameron said he will “really plunge into that” project, noting there are several narrative problems to solve and a need to stay ahead of real-world developments to keep the story grounded in science fiction. Cameron underscored that artists should not operate from a comfort zone and that fear can drive innovation.
Cameron also explained that Schwarzenegger had pushed to be involved in Terminator: Dark Fate, and he described that film as a strong finish for the actor’s run as the T-800. The director stressed that there should be a broader interpretation of the Terminator concept, including ideas like a time war and super intelligence, while signaling a shift toward new storytelling directions beyond the traditional battles between humans and machines.
Schwarzenegger’s history with the franchise spans the original film in 1984 and the sequels that followed: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), Terminator Genisys (2015), and Terminator: Dark Fate (2019). During a separate appearance on Watch What Happens Live in June, the actor named Terminator Salvation (2009) as his least favorite entry, in part because he was not in that installment, a point he has revisited in public discussions.
Away from the Terminator franchise, Cameron also touched on the Avatar saga. He rejected Matt Damon’s recollection that he was offered a role in Avatar. Cameron said Damon was never offered the part, or at least that there was no deal in place, and that Damon’s decision not to participate was tied to other commitments. Damon has previously said he would have been interested in a Jake Sully role if the economics had aligned, but the Jake Sully role ultimately went to Sam Worthington. Cameron credited Damon with respect for the process and noted that if Damon had accepted a different deal, Avatar might have looked different, but he emphasized that the situation did not involve an actual offer.
Avatar went on to become the highest-grossing film of all time, amassing approximately $2.9 billion worldwide. Cameron said he remains bullish about the franchise’s potential and the storytelling opportunities beyond the current installments, even as he confirms leadership on a seventh Terminator project remains part of his long-range plan. He stressed that the best sci‑fi tends to emerge when a creator pushes beyond familiar territory, a philosophy he intends to apply as he balances work on Avatar with new Terminator storytelling.
As Cameron looks ahead, he underscored that any future Terminator project will aim to expand the universe in ways that reflect evolving technologies and societal concerns, while keeping a respectful distance from reviving old formulas purely for nostalgia. The executive’s comments at D23 and in his THR interview frame a deliberate shift: Schwarzenegger may be done as the iconic cyborg for now, the Avatar saga continues to grow, and a new generation of characters could redefine the future of the franchise.