‘Terminator Zero’ showrunner says anime series will convey the ‘serial killer’ atmosphere of the original film

Terminator Zero Showrunner Mattson Tomlin revealed that the series will be more similar to the first film in the series than the action-packed spectacles of Terminator 2: Judgment Day and the sequels that followed. Terminator Zero is a sci-fi anime that Terminator Franchise with a story that begins immediately after the events of T2. It also marks the franchise’s return to television fifteen years after Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles was canceled. This time, the series will air on Netflix as an eight-part series, with Timothy Olyphant lending his voice to the Terminator.

During his speech at the Anime Expo 2024 in Los Angeles (via CNET) Terminator Zero Showrunner Mattson Tomlin told the audience that the series will be closer in tone to the horror genre, as The Terminatormaking him a merciless killing machine. His series will take on the “serial killer” robot horror of James Cameron’s original 1984 film, rather than the blockbuster action spectacle of the other installments in the series. The series is in many ways a gender-reversed reimagining of the original, as it sees a lone Terminator sent to hunt down a male scientist (Andre Holland) living in Japan, whose protector is a resistance fighter (Sonoya Mizuno) from the future.

A small scale could be what the Terminator series needs

The Terminator Franchise is one of the most iconic film series in history, largely due to the strength and cultural staying power of The Terminator And Terminator 2: Judgment Day. At the time of publication Terminator 2: Judgment Day was the most expensive film of all time. For years Terminator Franchise has followed the climax of this film by making blockbuster action sequels that did not live up to the high standards of T2which, adjusted for inflation, is still the highest-grossing film in the series.

Despite positive reviews, Terminator: Dark Fate was a box office flop and probably paid for the years of audience disillusionment with films like 2009 Terminator: Salvation and 2015 Terminator: Genisys. It has been five years since Terminator: Dark Fate was released and it seemed like the franchise had been on hold for a while until it was announced that Terminator Zero was developed. The series was first announced in February 2021.

Related

How a 15-year-old failed Terminator movie ended in bankruptcy

Terminator Salvation was supposed to be the beginning of a new trilogy, but the owners of the franchise filed for bankruptcy after its release.

Terminator ZeroThe approach of adopting the horror film tone of the first film is a step in the right direction. If Terminator 2: Judgment DayThe action can’t be topped, then making it smaller and going back to its roots could be the way to restore the franchise’s reputation. It’s a cheaper investment in horror than in action, and with anime becoming more popular every year, Terminator Zero has the chance to be both, what Terminator Fans have been waiting for it all these years, and it’s also a new entry point into the franchise for audiences who may not have been interested in the franchise before. Not only is the August 29, 2024 premiere a nod to Skynet’s launch day, but it also comes 40 years after Terminator’s theatrical release, so it’s fitting that the series celebrates its fortieth anniversary by picking up the tone of the first film.