Terminator and Dumb and Dumber Sequels Are in The Pipe Line But Do We Actually Want Them?

It has been sequel crazy lately with two movies in particular popping up as interesting choices. The one most people will be frothing at the mouth in anticipation for is the Terminator movie that could be in the works. Over at The Wrap they reported that Paramount is trying to get the distribution rights to the franchise. The Terminator trademark is owned by Megan and David Ellison who paid a whopping 20 million to buy it way back in 2011 and have been trying to get Terminator 5 up and running ever since. If you are unfamiliar with these two, they have worked on such projects as Zero Dark Thirty, Star Trek and Mission Impossible. The news that Paramount is showing an interest could mean things are finally coming together.

Then, this news came online from The Arnold Fans about The Terminator himself Arnold Schwarzenegger becoming involved in the movie. Not just involved either, he thinks he will be back to play the role he made famous. In an interview with the website he was quoted as saying:

[quote]“I’m very happy that the studios want me to be in Terminator 5 and to star AS the Terminator, which we start shooting in January and I’m also going to do King Conan – to play that role and also to do another Twins movie. So I feel very proud of that. I feel very happy and I’m looking forward to doing those films.”[/quote]

He seems quite sure of himself that Terminator 5 will have him in the hot seat again (as well as Twins 2 but let’s not get started on that right now). The main problem is that the Ellison’s are on a time frame. The rights switch back to James Cameron in 2019 and though that seems far away now, with casting, production, and advertising seemingly not done yet they really need to pull their fingers out if they want to make a movie before the rights expire.

Then in what can only be described as a shrug your shoulders in dismay news, rumours have surfaced again (via Collider) that the Dumb and Dumber, titled Dumb and Dumber To (no, really that’s how it’s spelled) sequel could still be on as the Farrely brothers search for a new home for their sequel to the hit 1994 comedy. Warner Brothers have passed on it and it seems that Red Granite (Horns) are possibly going to take it on board with them getting the foreign distribution rights. They only have a few movies under their belt though and it makes you wonder if they will have the finance to pull this off. Not much else is known at this stage other than the film will have both Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels reprising their roles and the plot involves a search for Harry’s daughter so they can help with a kidney transplant.

The question that keeps coming up again and again in my mind is “Who Cares?” The Farrelly Brothers have had a bad run of it recently with most of their films getting worse and worse. With films and TV becoming more and more extreme, it seems their cheeky blend of gross out and childish humour is not really needed anymore. It was almost 20 years since Dumb and Dumber was released and with the prequel completely missing the point and entertaining no one I just wonder if there is still an audience for this movie. If there is it has to be a pretty big one to get the Farrelly’s back on top. The original is a fun film and I would rather it stay that way than possibly ruin it with an unnecessary re-launch.

Then we move to Terminator 5 which will have an audience already built in for it. Will fans flock back in their droves to see this new installment even if Arnie is back? Well if we look at the gross from these films I think we get our answer.

Terminator Salvation = $371 million worldwide

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines = $433 million worldwide

Terminator 2: Judgment Day  = $519 million worldwide

It is still making money but it is suffering from the classic case of diminishing returns. They have already tried to go the reboot / prequel route with Salvation and with Christian Bale and a CGI Arnie it still did less than Terminator 3 did. Unfortunately Arnie is not the main draw he once was with The Last Stand under performing at the box office, will his role in this be enough for movie goers to pay out their hard earned cash? And how the heck are they going to make him look like his earlier counterpart because Arnie is showing his age now, he is not the young killer we once saw destroying a police station. Unless this is done on the cheap, I do not see it making back its money. Whether I am right or wrong or whether these films even get made is unclear at the moment, but stay tuned to Grizzly Bomb for more updates as they arrive.