James Cameron on butting heads with Tim Miller over Terminator: Dark Fate

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

After several sequels failed to breathe new life into the TERMINATOR franchise, James Cameron returned to set the series back on the right path with TERMINATOR: DARK FATE. However, Cameron recently told CinemaBlend that making the film wasn't the easiest experience, especially in the editing-room where he clashed creatively with director Tim Miller.

I would say many [disagreements]. And the blood is still being scrubbed off the walls from those creative battles. This is a film that was forged in fire. So yeah, but that’s the creative process, right?

Tossing two people both equally passionate about the same project into a room together doesn't always go as planned, especially if the pair have major differences regarding how best to construct the project. James Cameron said that the rough cut of TERMINATOR: DARK FATE "wasn't a slam-dunk at the time. I felt there were a lot of pathways that were taken that were unnecessary. I’m an editor myself, so I gave notes that were both broad, and very specific. I continued in that process up to about two and a half months ago when we locked picture." Cameron played a similar role on ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL with Robert Rodriquez, but had a much easier time working on that project. "My work with Robert on Alita was very different. Robert loved the script, loved everything, said, 'I just want to make this movie. I want to make the movie the way you see it.'' I was like, 'No, you got to make it your movie,'" Cameron said. "I had the reverse experience with Tim, which is Tim wanted to make it his movie. And I’m like, 'Yeah, but I kind of know a little about this world.'' So I had the matter and the anti-matter version of that producurial experience."

The official synopsis for TERMINATOR: DARK FATE:

More than two decades have passed since Sarah Connor prevented Judgment Day, changed the future, and re-wrote the fate of the human race. Dani Ramos (Natalia Reyes) is living a simple life in Mexico City with her brother (Diego Boneta) and father when a highly advanced and deadly new Terminator – a Rev-9 (Gabriel Luna) – travels back through time to hunt and kill her. Dani's survival depends on her joining forces with two warriors: Grace (Mackenzie Davis), an enhanced super-soldier from the future, and a battle-hardened Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). As the Rev-9 ruthlessly destroys everything and everyone in its path on the hunt for Dani, the three are led to a T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) from Sarah’s past that may be their last best hope.

TERMINATOR: DARK FATE will hit theaters on November 1, 2019, so be sure to check out a reviews from our own JimmyO and Chris Bumbray!