I Still Want To See Ridley Scott’s Terminator Movie (Even If He Refused to Make it)

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After James Cameron departed from the Terminator series, it seems the story should have ended there, given that the original 1984 Terminator was Cameron’s creation, and its sequel thrived under his renowned passion for grandeur. Without him present, the franchise degenerated into numerous reboots and repetitive stories lacking distinct character. Many subsequent installments merely mirrored what Cameron had already achieved previously, which paradoxically emphasized his absence even more.

While some new developments have emerged, they unfortunately add to the pain felt by fans regarding the Terminator series. It was impossible for anyone to completely fill the shoes left by Cameron and steer these movies perfectly. However, learning that Ridley Scott declined Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines remains a bitter disappointment.

What Happened With Ridley Scott and Terminator?

Rise of the Machines, a choice he takes pride in. Originally, Cameron had asked the producers to match Arnold Schwarzenegger’s $20 million salary, which they agreed to. Despite this substantial offer, Cameron still refused, stating, “I couldn’t do it. It wasn’t for me.” Later, he compared the Terminator series to James Bond films, suggesting both were forms of light-hearted entertainment akin to popcorn movies.

In Scott’s perspective, he felt unfit for directing “Rise of the Machines” as he wanted to make it a realistic portrayal. Consequently, he opted against a significant paycheck and shifted his focus towards other ventures. Given the timeline of Terminator 3 and when the project was gaining momentum, it’s plausible that this offer was presented to Scott shortly after his success with Gladiator (which ultimately won the Best Picture Oscar). With Gladiator behind him, the producers may have been keen to recruit Scott, leading them to allocate an additional $20 million for his involvement.

In the early 2000s, instead of directing films like Terminator 3, Scott opted to lead projects such as Hannibal (not an action-focused franchise title), Black Hawk Down, and Matchstick Men in the same year as Terminator 3’s release. Regarding Rise of the Machines, it marked the first instance of a director other than Cameron, with Jonathan Mostow stepping in. This filmmaker received approximately $5 million for directing this blockbuster. Although this was a substantial amount, it fell far short of the $20 million offer Scott had been given at that time, as he had only directed two films at that point in his career.

The Tragedy of Losing Scott on Terminator

It’s disappointing that Scott wasn’t the director for Terminator 3 because it would have been intriguing to see a switch in directors similar to what happened with the Alien films. Initially, Ridley Scott made Alien, followed by James Cameron taking over for Aliens. With Scott turning down Terminator 3, there was an opportunity for a reverse situation where Cameron handed off the Terminator franchise to Scott. Unfortunately, this wasn’t meant to be as Scott chose projects that better matched his creative vision instead.

What’s even more unfortunate, however, is the pattern Scott has in science fiction stories. Be it Alien, The Martian, or Blade Runner, Ridley Scott consistently delivers exceptional performances in science fiction films. Even controversial films like Prometheus within this genre still boast striking visuals and profound themes that you won’t find in ordinary movies. Regardless of what his vision for Terminator 3 might have been, there’s no denying it would have been unique and impressive, much like his other critically-acclaimed sci-fi films. The mediocre quality of the released Terminator 3 only amplifies the sadness over the potential that never came to fruition.

Hiring Jonathan Mostow set a trend in the post-1991 Terminator films to hire inexperienced directors instead of acclaimed auteurs. Instead of choosing filmmakers who could bring fresh perspectives to this franchise, Mostow’s unremarkable, watered-down take on Rise of the Machines set a pattern that led to commonplace directing choices for decades of subsequent Terminator films. Ridley Scott has had several cinematic disappointments, so his Terminator movie was not necessarily going to be a masterpiece. However, it’s safe to say that his Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines would have been significantly more unique and worthy of upholding James Cameron’s creative legacy.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is now available on physical media.

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2025-09-01 20:44