The Terminator hunting young Kyle and Sarah Reese; Tom Hardy on wishlist for John Connor

Last Updated on July 23, 2021

He always said he'll be back, and now we're getting closer to learning who will be tackling some major roles in the next chapter of THE TERMINATOR franchsie.

Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Alan Taylor (THOR: THE DARK WORLD) is prepping to begin testing actors and actresses for the sci-fi feature project which is being made by Paramount, Annapurna Pictures and Skydance Productions. The testing will begin next next week, with Taylor seeing “Game of Thrones’” Emilia Clarke, THE SPECTACULAR NOW‘s Brie Larson as well as another actress vying for the role of young Sarah Connor. Margot Robbie’s name has also surfaced in connection with the role.

Connor was played by Linda Hamilton in the classic movies directed by James Cameron. The character is the future mother of John Connor, who grows up to be the leader of the human resistance in the war between humanity and cyborgs.

The site adds that Taylor will also be searching for his young Kyle Reese, the man who will father John. Those actor tests will occur at a later date but insiders say TRON: LEGACY‘s Garrett Hedlund is on the short list.

As we've previously heard Arnold Schwarzenegger will be back as a Terminator robot in a time-spanning story that sees him tasked to protect Sarah Connor as she grows up.

But John Connor is also back and sources say Taylor’s wish list starts with Tom Hardy (MAD MAX: FURY ROAD), although at this stage not even a meeting has taken place.

The latest Terminator will be the fifth installment of the storied movie series, which began in 1984 as an indie distributed by Orion. Schwarzenegger starred in all but the last one, 2009’s TERMINATOR SALVATION.

Annapurna acquired the rights to the franchise in May 2011, then teamed up with Skydance and Paramount in June, with plans to make a trilogy. The movie has a July 1, 2015 release date.