Terminator 4 Who, What, Where, When (But Not Really Why or How)

Jadagrace? Is that you?

Slashfilm received a press release from Warner Brothers with more information about Terminator 4 (which, btw, they refer to as Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, a title that we all thought had been abandoned. Oh well. I would also like to take this opportunity to note that I did not receive said press release from WB. I am treated like the red-headed stepchild of film bloggers. Oh wait, I am a red-head. Maybe there is a logic to it all).

Anyway, here’s the official new synopsis:

In the highly anticipated new installment of The Terminator film franchise, set in post-apocalyptic 2018, Christian Bale stars as John Connor, the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators.  But the future Connor was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row.  Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past.  As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet’s operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind. The film also stars Anton Yelchin as Kyle Reese, Charlotte Gainsbourg as Kate Connor, Moon Bloodgood as Blair Williams, Common as Barnes, and Jadagrace as Star.

Kate Connor is presumably the Kate Brewster character played by Claire Danes in Terminator 3 (III?), now married to John Connor. Nothing personal, Claire, but what an upgrade. Charlotte Gainsbourg is gorgeous in such an unusual way and so, so cool. I want to be her when I grow up. No one seems to know who or what Jadagrace is, but judging by her character name, I’m guessing she’s playing an escapee from a bad production of Hair.

As for the synopsis, well, two things: one is the sentence, “Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past,” which, as a Slashfilm commenter points out, is one of those, huh what? sentences. Could you just ask Marcus his birthday or something like that? I’m a little vague on this one. The other is the phrase, “As Skynet prepares its final onslaught…” Well, let’s just put that word “final” on hold, shall we? Like soap operas, nothing in big budget film franchises is ever final.

Filming has begun in New Mexico, and the movie is currently slated to hit theaters on May 22nd, 2009.