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James Cameron is responsible for helming some of the most visually enthralling and compelling narratives that changed the course of box office affairs. The 69-year-old filmmaker is deemed the most innovative in the business, having many astounding, otherwise unimaginable entries in his filmography. One such monumental, career-defining endeavor wasTerminator 2: Judgment Day.
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The engaging characters and plot of the Arnold Schwarzenegger-led premise subverted viewer expectations. The technical nuances and the high-octane action sequences further differentiated it from other sci-fi initiatives. Many believe Cameron crafted a commercially and critically superior masterpiece to its predecessor.
With that in mind, it’s astonishing to learn of Cameron’s initial hesitation to helm the picture. There was nearly a chance of the renowned filmmaker opting out of the project. The world would’ve never experienced his brilliance. But why was that so?
James Cameron Didn’t Want To DirectTerminator 2
It becomes daunting to envision any other director taking the responsibility ofTerminator 2. Much of what the sequel evolved into was Cameron’s doing, especially his meticulous and strict attention to detail. The production for the endeavor was arduous and demanding, but that was partly due to the director’s need for precision and perfection. And perfection he did attain. The sequel went on to gross $519-$520.9 million worldwide. It received widespread acclaim from critics. It was a career-defining moment forJames Cameron, much before the likes ofTitanicandAvatarwere conceivable.
However, during a 1986 interview with Starlog Magazine (viaAliens Collection), the director revealed his plans of not pursuing the second installment and having it be helmed by someone else. Following was his statement:
“I’ve already decided not to direct it [Terminator 2]. It would be the fourth sequel that I’ve been involved with, and my third sequel as director and that’s not too good a record out of four movies.”
Read also:Arnold Schwarzenegger Wanted Another Actor’s Role in James Cameron’s Billion Dollar Franchise
He also remarked:
“Chances are, however, that someone else will directTerminator II,and Gale [Anne Hurd, producer and co-writer of The Terminator] and I will supervise it very closely.”
Therefore, James Cameron was hesitant to helm the critically praised sequel that would revolutionize both his andArnold Schwarzenegger‘s Hollywood careers since he realized he didn’t direct originals as frequently as he did sequels. Thankfully, the filmmaker ultimately returned as the director of the second feature. Cameron presented a conclusion that he felt would bring the franchise to an end.
Today, we know that this is not the case.
Why James Cameron Didn’t Return For The Third Film
TheAvatardirector deemed the first two films to resemble a complete story. He wasn’t as enthusiastic as Schwarzenegger about the possibility of a third film. Therefore, while there were plans for a third installment under the filmmaker’s guidance, it was obstructed for several reasons. Cameron’s decision to walk away from the series during the early development ofTerminator 3was because he thought he had evolved beyond it. Following is what he said in an interview withWired:
“I kind of turned my back on the Terminator world when there was early talk about a third film. I’d evolved beyond it. I don’t regret that, but I have to live with the consequence, which is that I keep seeing it resurrected.”
Despitehisreservations, JamesCameronexpressedhis supportforthethirdinstallment. He had mixed sentiments at first, with a part of him hoping that the movie wouldn’t be good, but after seeing its success, he praised director Jonathan Mostow and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Although theTerminatorfranchise later witnessed dismal and lackluster cinematic entries, the world will never forget its glorious days under James Cameron.
The TerminatorandTerminator 2: Judgment Dayare available for streaming on Max and Paramount Plus.
Source:Aliens CollectionandWired
Read also:Scarlett Johansson’s Favorite Action Movie of All Time is Arnold Schwarzenegger & James Cameron’s Greatest Contribution to Cinema
Debdipta Bhattacharya
Articles Published :659
Debdipta Bhattacharya is a content writer at FandomWire, where she has written more than 500 articles on various topics of interest. She possesses a sincere passion for popular culture, anime, film production, and the evolving world of YouTube and streaming culture which has allowed her to be a devoted and well-informed writer. Debdipta holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication. She has honed her skills and expertise in content writing with over two years of experience and strives to learn and grow daily.
