Despite some of the best reviews for the sequels after Terminator 2, Terminator: Dark Fate underperformed at the box office. The much-hyped return of James Cameron as a writer for the story and as an executive producer wasn’t enough to entice moviegoers and although fans were enthusiastic about the return of Linda Hamilton as Sarah Conner, the franchise just couldn’t win over those who weren’t already invested. Now that Terminator: Dark Fate is on BluRay and the box office flop debris has settled, Linda Hamilton is speaking on the film’s failure and whether or not she’d return to the franchise.
Linda Hamilton had this to say about the financial outcome of the film and whether or not she’d ever return:
“I would really appreciate maybe a smaller version where so many millions are not at stake. Today’s audience is just so unpredictable. I can’t tell you how many laymen just go, ‘Well, people don’t go to the movies anymore.’ It should definitely not be such a high-risk financial venture, but I would be quite happy to never return. So, no, I am not hopeful because I would really love to be done.”
Hamilton is right about the financial stakes being very high for Dark Fate. The film’s budget was a reported $175-185 million and the film only grossed $62.2 million domestically and $261 million worldwide. Paramount Pictures definitely lost money on Dark Fate and even though the reception was positive, that doesn’t always translate into box office profit.
SPOILER ALERT AHEAD
One speculation from fans as to what might’ve rubbed some the wrong way was the decision to kill off John Connor (Edward Furlong) in the opening scene. Furlong actually shot for a day on Dark Fate and de-aging technology was used to make him appear as he did circa 1992. This plot point was a bone of contention for fans but Hamilton believes it was necessary to get her character back into the action for the new film:
“I don’t think Sarah and John would be there at all if they were still fine and strong. I thought it was a great leaping-off point for my character. To create a new fuel and fire for Sarah Connor, I thought it was a very good story point. I’m not one that clings to past ideas… I just think it’s much more interesting to launch from a new place.”
Despite how the film may have been received, Hamilton has a great time filming it and became especially close with her female co-stars, Natalia Reyes and Mackenzie Davis:
“I’ve never felt as united with my actors that I’ve worked with — ever — until these two ladies. That was a bond forged in fire. (Laughs.) It really took, and we leaned on each other hard. I love them as actors, I love them as ladies, and I love them as women that are fierce, intelligent, informed and considerate of the earth. They were just a blessing. And I think you have to put director Tim (Miller) in there, too. It was really Tim and the three muses. Tim was very much a part of that relationship. At any given moment, two of us were hugging him, and if there was room for a third… (Laughs.) We were like that, truly. It sounds silly, I know, but we wouldn’t have made it without him. That’s for sure.”
Terminator: Dark Fate is available now on BluRay.
