James Cameron is one of the most prolific sci-fi directors of all time. His films are unique in that they are both formative works in the sci-fi genre and unbelievable box-office hits. Of the top five highest-grossing films of all time, three were directed by Cameron. While one of these is тιтanic, the other two are both the movies released so far in his technologically groundbreaking Avatar series.

Avatar is not Cameron’s only notable sci-fi work. Starting in the 1980s, he helmed both The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, the latter of which has especially gained notoriety in the sci-fi world. He also directed Aliens, which is looked at as one of the great sci-fi sequels of all time.

While Avatar is still very much Cameron’s baby, both the Alien and Terminator franchises have continued without the director taking the front seat. As the filmmaker continues his career, there is one sci-fi franchise that he should feel particularly compelled to return to.

What James Cameron Has Said About Terminator 7

He Has Been Working On Scripts

Cameron has openly spoken about developing Terminator 7. While he teased ideas for another installment for a while, a more concrete update was given in 2023. Cameron revealed at a Dell Tech World conference that he had started writing Terminator 7 a few months prior. At the time, he said that he wanted to see how things were shaping up with AI in the real world before moving forward on the project.

In August 2024, Cameron provided a cryptic update on the Terminator 7 script. He called his work “totally classified,” but noted that he was working on his own installment that had nothing to do with the Netflix animated series Terminator Zero. Cameron didn’t confirm the extent of his directorial involvement in Terminator 7. He is penning the film’s script, or at least significantly helping with the story development.

Terminator 7 Should Only Happen If James Cameron Directs It

The Franchise Needs Him Back

Cameron is not just a boost to the Terminator franchise; he is a deal-breaker. The series went on a 12-year hiatus after Judgment Day, but it was never the same without Cameron.

Some of the post-Cameron films haven’t been critically strong. This includes Terminator Salvation (33% Tomatometer) and Terminator Genisys (26% Tomatometer). While Terminator: Dark Fate got decent reviews, the franchise has continually proven that it is better when attached to Cameron.

The director’s statement about waiting to see how the future of AI is shaping up before fleshing out Terminator 7 is also a testament to how deeply he reflects on sci-fi writing. Cameron is the right kind of thinker to take on the next movie in the franchise, and his track record proves that he is the right fit.

Avatar Movies May Prevent James Cameron From Making Terminator 7

His Schedule Will Be Busy

Even with Cameron’s interest in the franchise, the Avatar franchise could prevent him from contributing to Terminator 7. Right now, he is in the post-production process and will soon be in the press cycle for Avatar: Fire and Ash. This will be fairly all-consuming as these movies are long and involved.

ᴀssuming all goes well with the Avatar threequel, Cameron still has Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 coming down the pipeline. Right now, these films are set for release in December 2029 and 2031, but even with some breaks, there are years-long endeavors that will be time-consuming for the acclaimed filmmaker.

Cameron also recently announced a new project, which would be an adaptation of the Joe Abercrombie fantasy novel The Devils. This will reportedly be produced after the release of Avatar 3.

Both this film and the Avatar projects are likely to pull Cameron away from Terminator 7, or at minimum, significantly delay the project. This makes it look less likely that he will end up helming the AI sci-fi film.

Avatar Is Great, But Cameron’s Terminator 7 Would Be Even Better

Terminator Helped Cameron’s Career Tremendously

Don’t get me wrong, I love Avatar. I’m as excited about these next movies as I could be. After all, the franchise has already made over $5 billion and stunned audiences with its advanced CGI and other technology in the process. If Fire and Ash and its successors continue the franchise’s current strength, the Avatar movies could go down as one of the best sci-fi franchises of all time.

However, I still think Terminator 7 would be a great chance for Cameron to restore one of the franchises that put him on the map. In turn, he could help revive the franchise after some negative entries have rocked this century. As evidenced by the high-quality Terminator Zero, stories in the universe can feel timely, compelling, and emotional.

Imbuing environmentalist themes in the Avatar movies, Cameron is also well-versed in creating fantastical worlds that speak to the current moment. There is no better opportunity to show what he is made of than with Terminator 7. The franchise needs him to keep surviving (and thriving), and he should prioritize it if he can find the time.