McG to Direct Fourth ‘Terminator’; New Script-Submitting Web Site Launches

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On Friday, I received a tip from a new source stating that McG (born Joseph McGinty Nichol) will direct the fourth “Terminator” film, which is currently titled “Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins”.

We’ve since seen this confirmed with other news outlets and I’m now comfortably conveying it as true. See below for my source’s full note.

“Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines”
Photo credit: ILM

McG officially signed on to direct “Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins” on [Thursday] night.

Warner Bros. recently gave the film a green light and is looking to get filming in “early 2008” for a summer 2009 release.

The script by John Brancato and Michael Ferris (“Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines”) was locked in October due to the writer’s strike.

The fourth film is described as being as big in size and scale as “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” but with a smaller budget now that Arnold Schwarzenegger is no longer part of the production.

Claire Danes and Nick Stahl will not be returning as well.

On an interesting side note, Michael Ferris [editor’s note: a different Michael Ferris from the “Terminator” screenwriter] just opened a Web site where you can submit scripts and short films to him and he helps you get them to [all of] his agents and managers.

That URL is http://www.your-insider.com. While I don’t know if the opening of the Web site was meant to coincide with the news, they both happened at the same time.

This could mean big news for script and film competitions since he’s making himself a direct conduit for the average filmmaker to agents and managers in Hollywood.

7:24 p.m. update on 11/20/07: I have received a note from Michael Ferris of Your-Insider.com.

To prevent confusion, I have edited this post and am notifying you here that the Michael Ferris who runs that site is a different Michael Ferris than the “Terminator” screenwriter.