Sam Worthington
© Sam Worthington

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Worthington Leads TERMINATOR Trilogy

Apparently, director James Cameron is definitely on board the upcoming Terminator Salvation trilogy. Enough so that he is on the phone with current helmer McG, giving advice on casting choices. Variety reports Cameron suggested his Avatar (slated 2009) star Sam Worthington a worthy choice for the rumored new major role in the trilogy. Director McG promptly brought the Australian actor on board.

Variety also went on to recall the tensions between Cameron and T3:

Cameron never took a public position on the Jonathan Mostow-directed "T3," which grossed more than $430 million worldwide. Speculation is his history with some of the producers could have prompted him to stay on the sidelines.

"T3" was owned by Mario Kassar and Andy Vajna, who years ago bought the rights at a Carolco bankruptcy auction out from under Cameron, prompting the director to remove himself from involvement. And the "T3" rights package included a multimillion-dollar rights buyout and exec producer credit for Gale Anne Hurd, Cameron's former partner and ex-wife. He famously signed over his "Terminator" rights for $1 to her before they made the first film, in exchange for a guarantee he wouldn't be replaced as director. It was a deal that left him on the outside looking in as everyone else cashed in on "T3."

Plot Concept: While the "Terminator Salvation" plot has twists and turns that are being kept under tight wraps, Worthington will play the role of Marcus, a central figure in a three-picture arc that begins after Skynet has destroyed much of humanity in a nuclear holocaust. A group of survivors led by John Connor (Christian Bale) struggles to keep the machines from finishing the job.