Despite not having a release date until next year, the internet forums are buzzing with rumours and opinions about Terminator 4. I have already posted my reservations about McG as a director, but I must admit that there is potential for the Terminator series to develop and explore its mythology further. The Sarah Connor Chronicles turned out to be a pleasant surprise in that it delved into philosophical issues as well as trying to keep the action going.

However, Ain’t It Cool News and many other resources reported on a giant spoiler relating to the new Terminator film, revealing the end of the first part of a trilogy of films. For those who want to take the risk….

Apparently, the new film concerns the adult John Connor and fellow soldier Marcus attempting to complete a mission in the war against machines. Only it turns out that Marcus is a cyborg (the spoiler doesn’t say whether he is on the side of Skynet or the humans). John Connor (played by Christian Bale) gets killed at the end. Those humans who find decide that John is important as an icon of hope, so transplant his skin onto the body of a terminator. So there you go, there’s no need to waste your money on something McG has concocted. Yet….

McG has set up a website for the new film, in which he’ll post infrequent blogs about its progress. He posted one dated June 3rd, in which he talks about the early, less realistic version of terminators, as well as the MPAA rating, and finally a rather enigmatic remark regarding the rumours of the script: “By the way, there are only three people who know the ending”. Is that a flat-out denial or a way of bypassing admitting that the film’s story has been revealed? It’s hard to say. Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins is due out in May 2009.