Terminator 5: The Future for Distribution Begins

We're just a week away from the opening of Terminator: Salvation. The advanced buzz has overall been "It's good, but not great!" and all of the key principals involved are already getting their shit geared up for a fifth installment of the newly-revived franchise. Christian Bale is signed up for two more outtings, McG is said to be already working on outlines for Terminator 5 with (now uncredited) writer Jonathon Nolan and a Summer 2011 was officially announced last December.

Well, things are about to get really messy. As it stands there is no distributor locked down for any additional Terminator films beyond Salvation - which Warner Brothers is distributing here in the U.S. and Sony is handling the international side of the matter.

As per Variety, MGM has a 30 day "first right of refusal" to both bankroll and distribute the next Terminator film. Something that I'm sure really pisses off Warner Brothers and Sony right now - as both studios stand to make a nice pay-day from Salvation and would prefer to stay in the "Terminator business" for years to come.

The bigger question of course can MGM even afford to be involved. It's not like they're in the best of shape themselves - what with being bought by Sony a few years back and all. Not to mention, their plate is pretty full with $150-$200 million tentpoles like The Hobbit (which they're doing with Warner Brothers) and the next James Bond film with Daniel Craig (whenever the Hell that happens!)

It'll only make matters worse if Salvation earns the kind of boffo-box office numbers that most are expecting. When something is successful, people have a funny way of coming out of nowhere to get involved.