"Terminator 4" Aiming For A PG-13 Rating

[DetroitSportsFan]

Because they have to sell toys...

Variety reports that with production starting today on Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, producers at the Halcyon Co. say they aim to deliver a PG-13 movie to Warner Bros. for release on May 22, 2009.

The "Terminator" series is one of the highest-grossing R-rated franchises of all time, with the first three films having grossed more than $1.03 billion worldwide. "The ratings have changed," said Halcyon co-founder and co-CEO Victor Kubicek, a broker-turned-writer-producer. "The PG-13 has increased in intensity."

A family-friendly rating opens many doors, including a "Terminator Salvation" licensing deal for action figures with Playmates Toys.

"Our merchandising program will be the largest to date for 'The Terminator,' " said Halcyon co-founder and co-CEO Derek Anderson, ex-owner of ad agency In the Mix, who adds that he had not discussed the possibility of an R-rating with Warners. "We won't force it. We are carrying on in the tradition of the mythology, with an exciting approach to the action. If we can make a compelling film to reach the widest audience, why wouldn't we do it?"

Halcyon has already launched Halcyon Games to create a "Terminator" game for release at the same time as the movie. "The first three games were all bad," Anderson said. "The core fans are screaming for something fresh; they won't be just playing the movie."

Set in post-apocalyptic 2029, an adult John Connor, played by Christian Bale, leads the war to save humanity from the killing machines. Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin and Moon Bloodgood co-star.

[Gamma_Winstead]

wasn't the third PG-13? It could work if done right....

[PS3-Playb3yond]

I think all previous Terminator movies were rated R.

[teunis]

i read in an article earlier that they are trying to pull a Die Hard 4, and make the new trilogy PG-13 so that a larger audience can attend it in theatres.

[GORT]

A Terminator Movie thats PG-13 this movie is D.O.A. and then they will put out an unrated disc to off set the box office loss

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

I don't know if I'd pay for a PG-13 rated Terminator movie. A movie that's supposed to have a lot of destruction and killing in it is supposed to be rated R.

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

I wanna see a lot of blood and guts with extreme violence in this Terminator finale for a stronger finish.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by gamma626

wasn't the third PG-13? It could work if done right....

No, third movie was rated R in the US. Although it was rated pg-12 in Japan.

[tommyboy81]

Originally Posted by Blu-ray Fanatic

I don't know if I'd pay for a PG-13 rated Terminator movie. A movie that's supposed to have a lot of destruction and killing in it is supposed to be rated R.

And cusing

[GreenScar]

Come on' Christian Bale is going to be in it. There's more man-crushes for him on this site than anywhere in the free world. You would go see him if it were 'G'

[quarters]

Kind of shows you the way the standards have gone as a society. Essentialy it is not a matter of less content in the movie, but that what would once upon a time earn an R rating has become more acceptable and less shocking for the youth, therefore not being so detrimental to them and earning a PG-13 rating instead. Opening the door for studios to appeal to a younger group of children by marketing to them action figures and other toys.

[Gamma_Winstead]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

No, third movie was rated R in the US. Although it was rated pg-12 in Japan.

didn't seem like it.

[bkbluray]

It had plenty of violence and language to make it a strong 'R' movie.

[tron3]

Even though James Cameron took the politically correct route in T2 ala "no killing", it is still the best movie in the franchise.

[David Mamet]

That way most of the people that post in the Movie and TV Discussion area can get into the movie.

[mzab24]

Originally Posted by gamma626

wasn't the third PG-13? It could work if done right....

Agreed and only IF they release an Unrated Blu Ray version

[Kirsty_Mc]

In that case Ridley Scott should have handed Russel Crowe a wooden sword in Gladiator. I'm sure it would have made a lower rating... What a hardcore bruising movie that would have been

[WickyWoo]

Lasers cauterize the wound, machines die

It's very possible to do a PG-13 T4

T3 was PG-13 until the very last minute. You simply can't make enough money to pay for these movies with an R rating. People keep forgetting that the Ahnuld epics of yore were made for $20-40 million and took in about double that

T2 was a major exception to that rule

[jbebout]

Ugg, I heard about it. I don't know. I will probably see it anyway.

[BLU for Blue]

Rapper/actor Common (upcoming Wanted) has signed on to co-star in Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins for Halcyon Pictures, reports Variety.

Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin and Moon Bloodgood have already boarded the project, which will be distributed by Warner Bros. domestically on May 22, 2009. Sony will release the film in most international markets.

The story centers on John Connor (Bale), now in his 30s, who leads what is left of the human race in a battle against the machines. Common will play a freedom fighter and member of Connor's inner circle.

McG directs from a script by John D. Brancato & Michael Ferris and Paul Haggis.

Dan Lin, Mortiz Borman, Victor Kubicek, Jeff Silver, Derek Anderson and Jeanne Allgood are producing