Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as the lead in TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY
© Carolco Pictures

Related Links

0

Warners Gets T3

Though Paramount, DreamWorks and Disney's Dimension were all strongly going for TERMINATOR 3: THE RISE OF THE MACHINES, a last minute contender, Warner Bros., swooped in and got the deal.

All four studios were willing and able to put up the $50M against 50% of the gross reciepts for the film, but Warner Bros. added arguments in their favor. The studio is said to have argued that the success of HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE demonstrated how all the assets and facets of the AOL Time Warner empire could be brought to use in promoting the film.

Second, Warners suggested that their current box office clout would serve to get lots of screens from the exhibitors.

As a result of the deal, TERMINATOR 3 will hit theater screens on the July 4th weekend of 2003. Prior to that, Warners' THE MATRIX RELOADED will hit screens on the Memorial Day weekend, with the third film, THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS, coming in November. Warners looks to now have officially pushed back HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN to November of 2004.

Production of TERMINATOR 3 is expected to start in spring 2002.

In related news, Arnold Schwarzenegger was injured in a motorcycle crash over the weekend, which resulted in some broken ribs.

The actor's spokesperson, Jill Eisenstadt, addressed the actor's condition, saying, "He's a very seasoned rider, and very safe rider, but accidents do happen, and unfortunately he did have one yesterday. He's resting comfortably and plans on coming home today."

For the coming T3 production, Arnold will recieve $30M.