Terminator: Dark Fate’s Director Weighs In On Why The Film Bombed, And It Only Reminds Me Of What Terminator Zero Did Right

Terminator: Dark Fate’s Director Weighs In On Why The Film Bombed, And It Only Reminds Me Of What Terminator Zero Did Right

As a seasoned gamer and die-hard fan of the Terminator franchise, I can confidently say that my heart still bleeds for the iconic series that has been left in cinematic limbo since 2019’s disappointing Dark Fate. The recent comments by director Tim Miller, regarding his approach to the film and its underperformance, have only reignited my curiosity about what could have been and reminded me of the brilliance of Netflix’s Terminator: Zero.


2025 movie lineup won’t feature the Terminator franchise, as it remains frozen creatively due to James Cameron’s franchise. The poor box office performance of Dark Fate, which occurred five years ago, is still a sore point for fans. Not long ago, director Tim Miller shared his thoughts on why the sixth film failed, and his comments made me ponder even more about what the Terminator Zero Netflix series did right.

What’s Tim Miller’s Explanation For Why Terminator: Dark Fate Bombed?

During a visit to Italy’s Lucca Comic and Games festival, the creator of Prime Video’s upcoming animated anthology titled “Secret Level” was interviewed by Variety. Being the producer of his latest work which is an anthology of tales derived from existing video game intellectual properties, discussions naturally revolved around adaptation. This conversation then steered towards Tim Miller’s views on “Terminator: Dark Fate,” and the aftermath that followed:

In a more rephrased manner: As someone who’s passionate about my nerdiness, I’m striving to create something that would impress fellow nerds like me. Unfortunately, my Terminator movie didn’t receive universal acclaim, but it was made with the same dedication, which serves as a lesson.

People who kept up with the Connor family saga’s latest instalment are probably familiar with Tim Miller’s disputes with James Cameron regarding “Terminator”. Although they appear to have reconciled, there’s no denying that they hold different views on what caused “Dark Fate” to falter. Yet, despite their disagreements, a semblance of politeness persists in this account of opposing viewpoints.

Terminator: Dark Fate’s Director Weighs In On Why The Film Bombed, And It Only Reminds Me Of What Terminator Zero Did Right

For Miller, it appears that the significant decision to kill John Connor in the film’s introduction might have been a turning point where things started to go wrong. On the other hand, James Cameron’s straightforward opinions about Dark Fate, which were voiced earlier this year, attribute the problems to audiences not attending the movie. Despite lingering differences in themes from the past, the conversation still seems to be taking place on a more amicable note.

Despite not being as controversial as other issues from the production, there’s still a noticeable disagreement between the two gentlemen. This difference in perspective also gives me another chance to discuss the excellent movie, Terminator Zero, which I’m always eager to do.

Terminator: Dark Fate’s Director Weighs In On Why The Film Bombed, And It Only Reminds Me Of What Terminator Zero Did Right

How This Terminator Sequel Reminds Me Of What Terminator Zero Did Right

One late night showing on HBO was all it took for me to fall in love with The Terminator. My love of sci-fi, especially stories with robots and time travel involved, was a consequence of watching this tale of trying to beat back Armageddon, and I’ll forever be thankful for that.

Initially, when it was revealed that Mattson Tomlin and Masashi Kudō were creating an anime within the same universe, I must admit I felt a bit apprehensive due to my personal dislike of the story in Dark Fate. However, my doubts were quickly dispelled upon seeing the trailer for Terminator Zero, which made Judgment Day appear even more terrifying.

However, what truly sets this series apart is not just its excellent aesthetics and atmosphere but also the bold decision to deviate from the conventional path. Unlike previous installments that often revolved around John Connor, the storyline of “Zero” takes a fresh approach by focusing on whether Malcolm Lee, skillfully voiced by André Holland in the English dub, can resist Skynet’s domination in 1997 using an AI he created.

Terminator: Dark Fate’s Director Weighs In On Why The Film Bombed, And It Only Reminds Me Of What Terminator Zero Did Right

I’d prefer not to add much more, as Zero truly needs to be felt directly. However, by deviating from continuously featuring John or Sarah Connor in combat and introducing another T-800 model resembling a random military officer, Netflix’s animated series didn’t feel the need to engage with the rich history of the Terminator franchise that came before it.

The animated series simply needed to narrate its unique tale, and it managed to carve out a niche for itself, avoiding the pitfall that “Dark Fate” stumbled into. Interestingly, this story was quite impressive and paid homage to the first two “Terminator” movies – a fact that will delight devoted fans while also attracting fresh viewers who are curious to explore the idea that our fate is what we create for ourselves.

It might be fascinating to discuss the possibility of additional anime adaptations for popular Hollywood franchises. This topic could keep us engaged in conversation for hours, without a doubt. However, there’s one point on which I think we can all agree – the incredible nature of “Terminator Zero”. You can explore this series by utilizing your Netflix subscription. If you feel bold, you might compare it to “Terminator: Dark Fate”, but I suspect we’ll find common ground in acknowledging that the anime format has done justice to James Cameron’s creation.

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2024-11-05 20:08