Follow TV Tropes

Following

History WhatCouldHaveBeen / Terminator

Go To

OR

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* Creator/OrionPictures once suggested that Creator/OJSimpson be cast as the Terminator. In a major case of HarsherInHindsight, Cameron didn't think people would take Simpson being a ruthless killer well.

to:

* An Creator/OrionPictures executive once suggested that Creator/OJSimpson be cast as the Terminator. In a major case of HarsherInHindsight, Terminator during an informal meeting. It's unclear how serious he was, and Cameron didn't think people would take Simpson being a ruthless killer well.called it the stupidest thing he'd ever heard.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Trope was cut/disambiguated due to cleanup


* Creator/{{McG}} expressed interest in casting Creator/JoshBrolin or Creator/DanielDayLewis as Marcus Wright.

to:

* Creator/{{McG}} Director [=McG=] expressed interest in casting Creator/JoshBrolin or Creator/DanielDayLewis as Marcus Wright.



* Even after turning John into a main character by Bale's demand and adding the Ashdown subplot to fit it better into the story, the main plot points were kept when they started shooting: Creator/HelenaBonhamCarter was going to play the cyborg Kogan and not just her image used by Skynet, Marcus would have fought a T-800 in his meeting with her, and his impersonation of a dead John was going to be the official ending. However, this ending was blasted by everyone who heard about it after an internet leak, with Creator/{{McG}} himself finding it thoroughly wrong upon reading it, and the Project Angel storyline was felt as too outlandish and out-of-character for the franchise, so they changed plans again mid-production. Some scenes from these earlier ideas were shot and are contained in the DVD.

to:

* Even after turning John into a main character by Bale's demand and adding the Ashdown subplot to fit it better into the story, the main plot points were kept when they started shooting: Creator/HelenaBonhamCarter was going to play the cyborg Kogan and not just her image used by Skynet, Marcus would have fought a T-800 in his meeting with her, and his impersonation of a dead John was going to be the official ending. However, this ending was blasted by everyone who heard about it after an internet leak, with Creator/{{McG}} [=McG=] himself finding it thoroughly wrong upon reading it, and the Project Angel storyline was felt as too outlandish and out-of-character for the franchise, so they changed plans again mid-production. Some scenes from these earlier ideas were shot and are contained in the DVD.



* This film was meant to be the first of a new trilogy, but the plans for any future endeavors with this incarnation vanished at some point and prompted a {{reboot}} with ''Film/TerminatorGenisys''. That said, ''Salvation'' did receive an ExpandedUniverse of novels and comic books that continued the story and even managed to wrap up the universe and timeline with a conclusive finale after it was abundantly clear no more actual films were going to be made. As far as we know, the sequel would have included:

to:

* This film was meant to be the first of a new trilogy, but the plans for any future endeavors with this incarnation vanished at some point and prompted a {{reboot}} ContinuityReboot with ''Film/TerminatorGenisys''. That said, ''Salvation'' did receive an ExpandedUniverse of novels and comic books that continued the story and even managed to wrap up the universe and timeline with a conclusive finale after it was abundantly clear no more actual films were going to be made. As far as we know, the sequel would have included:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* Creator/RidleyScott was asked to direct, but he was busy with ''Film/BlackHawkDown''. Creator/AngLee was also offered the job, but he was busy with ''Film/{{Hulk}}''. Creator/MichaelBay, who would [[Film/{{Transformers}} direct another movie based on a franchise that revolves around robots that started in 1984]], and Creator/JohnMcTiernan were also considered.

to:

* Creator/RidleyScott was asked to direct, but he was busy with ''Film/BlackHawkDown''. Creator/AngLee was also offered the job, but he was busy with ''Film/{{Hulk}}''. Creator/MichaelBay, who would [[Film/{{Transformers}} [[Film/Transformers2007 direct another movie based on a franchise that revolves around robots that started in 1984]], and Creator/JohnMcTiernan were also considered.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* The original concept of the TerminatorTwosome was that the T-1000 was going to have the ShapeshifterDefaultForm of Kyle Reese and played by Creator/MichaelBiehn, making for an even more interesting switch up of the first movie and involving an additional emotional subplot with Sarah recognizing his feature. Cameron would've written around it by saying that Skynet managed to get Kyle's DNA and used it for the T-1000. However, the idea was binned by the studio when they thought audiences would get confused by this. Instead they opted for the similarly-built Robert Patrick to get the big guy (Arnold) and small guy fighting each other image.

to:

* The original concept of the TerminatorTwosome was that the T-1000 was going to have the ShapeshifterDefaultForm of Kyle Reese and played by Creator/MichaelBiehn, making for an even more interesting switch up of the first movie and involving an additional emotional subplot with Sarah recognizing his feature. Cameron would've written around it by saying that Skynet managed to get Kyle's DNA and used it for the T-1000. However, the idea was binned rejected by the studio when they thought audiences would get confused by this. Instead they opted for the similarly-built Robert Patrick to get the big guy (Arnold) and small guy fighting each other image.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* Grace's arrival was [[WritingByTheSeatOfYourPants rewritten several times]] during the film's development, with ideas ranging from Dani landing in a river and washing downstream or materializing in a vagrant camp, where she'd "beat up homeless people".

to:

* Grace's arrival was [[WritingByTheSeatOfYourPants rewritten several times]] during the film's development, with ideas ranging from Dani her landing in a river and washing downstream or materializing in a vagrant camp, where she'd "beat up homeless people".
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* Hadrell (Creator/TomHopper's character) was initially meant to have a much larger arc and death scene, but his arc was ultimately cut for time.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* Grace's arrival was [[WritingByTheSeatOfYourPants rewritten several times]] during the film's development, with ideas ranging from Dani landing in a river and washing downstream or materializing in a vagrant camp, where she'd "beat up homeless people".

Changed: 360

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* Apparently, the prologue originally had dialogue from John and Sarah.

to:

* Apparently, According to director Tim Miller, the prologue originally had dialogue from between John and Sarah.Sarah, but it was eventually abandoned because "we never even got halfway across the UncannyValley." Miller briefly floated the idea of [[DigitalHeadSwap utilizing deepfake technology to portray a younger John]], and while it did not work for the final cut, it provided the animators some reference for the final animation.
Tabs MOD

Changed: 14

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Kill Em All was renamed Everybody Dies Ending due to misuse. Dewicking


* There was even a [[http://www.hopeofthefuture.net/deletedscenes/t4omit02.html second alternate ending]] where Marcus, after waking up from the operation, [[FaceHeelTurn turned evil]] and [[KillEmAll killed everyone in his hospital room]], including Kyle, Star, Kate, and Barnes. It got as far along as having concept art drawn up for it, but was even more hated than the former and eventually discarded.

to:

* There was even a [[http://www.hopeofthefuture.net/deletedscenes/t4omit02.html second alternate ending]] where Marcus, after waking up from the operation, [[FaceHeelTurn turned evil]] and [[KillEmAll killed everyone in his hospital room]], room, including Kyle, Star, Kate, and Barnes. It got as far along as having concept art drawn up for it, but was even more hated than the former and eventually discarded.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* According to Mackenzie Davis, the sequel film to ''Dark Fate'' was planned to focus on an alternate timeline Grace fighting against Legion's forces in the future in a similar vein to ''Salvation''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* Music/{{WASP}} singer Blackie Lawless was considered for the role of T-1000.

to:

* Music/{{WASP}} Music/{{WASP|Band}} singer Blackie Lawless was considered for the role of T-1000.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


[[folder:''Terminator'']]

to:

[[folder:''Terminator'']][[folder:''The Terminator'']]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
minor grammar/flow/spelling stuff


* In a first script, Reese wasn't the only soldier sent to the past, as here was another guy called Sumner who died after [[TeleFrag materializing just in the place of a fire escape structure.]] The character of Sumner was later recycled for ''The Sarah Connor Chronicles''.

to:

* In a first an early script, Reese wasn't the only soldier sent to the past, as here was another guy called Sumner who died after [[TeleFrag materializing just in the place of a fire escape structure.]] The character of Sumner was later recycled for ''The Sarah Connor Chronicles''.



* The film was actually meant to end with the tanker explosion and Reese living through the movie. But Cameron found this too anti-climatic and rallied for the factory ending. He won out leading to the much more BittersweetEnding.

to:

* The film was actually meant to end with the tanker explosion and Reese living through the movie. But However, Cameron found this too anti-climatic and rallied for the factory ending. He won out out, leading to the much more BittersweetEnding.



* The original concept of the TerminatorTwosome was that the T-1000 was going to have the ShapeshifterDefaultForm of Kyle Reese and played by Creator/MichaelBiehn, making for an even more interesting switch up of the first movie and involving an additional emotional subplot with Sarah recognizing his feature. Cameron would've wrote around it by saying that Skynet managed to get Kyle's DNA and used it for the T-1000. However, the idea was binned by the studio when they thought audiences would get confused by this. Instead they opted for the similarly built Robert Patrick to get the big guy (Arnold) and small guy fighting each other image.

to:

* The original concept of the TerminatorTwosome was that the T-1000 was going to have the ShapeshifterDefaultForm of Kyle Reese and played by Creator/MichaelBiehn, making for an even more interesting switch up of the first movie and involving an additional emotional subplot with Sarah recognizing his feature. Cameron would've wrote written around it by saying that Skynet managed to get Kyle's DNA and used it for the T-1000. However, the idea was binned by the studio when they thought audiences would get confused by this. Instead they opted for the similarly built similarly-built Robert Patrick to get the big guy (Arnold) and small guy fighting each other image.



** Dyson had a dream sequence before he died and dropped the device on the trigger. In it he saw a picture of his family before a nuclear inferno turned it to ash. He sees his family running and then a scene of the sun as it pulls back to reveal Dyson's dying eye before he closes it and drops the section of the enlarged chip onto the trigger (Dyson has a copy in his home that gets shot up by Sarah, and the original is shot at the same time as he is by the SWAT Team, thus he uses his creation to destroy it). Scenes of the blazing inferno were ultimately used during the movie's opening credits.

to:

** Dyson had a dream sequence before he died and dropped the device on the trigger. In it it, he saw a picture of his family before a nuclear inferno turned it to ash. He sees his family running and then a scene of the sun as it pulls back to reveal Dyson's dying eye eye, before he closes it and drops the section of the enlarged chip onto the trigger (Dyson has a copy in his home that gets shot up by Sarah, and the original is shot at the same time as he is by the SWAT Team, thus he uses his creation to destroy it). Scenes of the blazing inferno were ultimately used during the movie's opening credits.



* Creator/JamesCameron was expected to direct the film during the mid 1990s but due to Carolco's bankruptcy in 1995, he lost interest in the franchise and focused on doing ''Film/{{Titanic 1997}}'' instead.

to:

* Creator/JamesCameron was expected to direct the film during the mid 1990s mid-1990s, but due to Carolco's bankruptcy in 1995, he lost interest in the franchise and focused on doing ''Film/{{Titanic 1997}}'' instead.



* The film was going to feature a subplot where it would be revealed the T-800 series' human parts were created after an Air Force sergeant from current time, William Candy (also played by Schwartzenegger, but redubbed in a Southern accent, implying the robot's voice was actually sampled from a technician named Olson who was hilariously redubbed by Arnold himself). In fact, in the scene where the heroes meet Kate's father, the general was going to be shocked to see the T-850 and mistake him for Sgt. Candy, making the T-850 clarify he is not and mention he was made there. This was all removed because the director realized the audience would find it confusing, but the first scene with the real Candy is included as a DVD bonus. The novelization, which contains a few plot differents from the film, also kept this subplot.
* The first fight between the T-850 and the T-X featured the latter using headbutts and biting his arm with her steel teeth, exposing a bit of his arm's metal exoeskeleton. Similarly, their final fight under the giant door had the T-X grappling T-850's and attacking him with her rotary saw. Those moments were actually filmed, but were discarded before completing the special effects. The film's novelization and comic book retain them with some changes.

to:

* The film was going to feature a subplot where it would be revealed the T-800 series' human parts were created after an Air Force sergeant from current time, William Candy (also played by Schwartzenegger, Schwarzenegger, but redubbed in a Southern accent, implying the robot's voice was actually sampled from a technician named Olson who was hilariously redubbed by Arnold himself). In fact, in the scene where the heroes meet Kate's father, the general was going to be shocked to see the T-850 and mistake him for Sgt. Candy, making the T-850 clarify he is not and mention he was made there. This was all removed because the director realized the audience would find it confusing, but the first scene with the real Candy is included as a DVD bonus. The novelization, which contains a few plot differents differences from the film, also kept this subplot.
* The first fight between the T-850 and the T-X featured the latter using headbutts and biting his arm with her steel teeth, exposing a bit of his arm's metal exoeskeleton.exoskeleton. Similarly, their final fight under the giant door had the T-X grappling T-850's and attacking him with her rotary saw. Those moments were actually filmed, but were discarded before completing the special effects. The film's novelization and comic book retain them with some changes.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* One version of the script had a scene showing Dr. Silberman [[DroppedABridgeOnHim dying in the nuclear holocaust]]. Before being vaporized by nuclear radiation, Silberman's last thoughts would be of both Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese being right about everything.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* Creator/MickeyRourke, Music/{{Sting}} and Creator/BruceWillis were considered for Kyle Reese.
* Creator/RosannaArquette, Creator/KimBasinger, Creator/GlennClose, Creator/JamieLeeCurtis, Creator/GeenaDavis, Creator/MiaFarrow, Creator/CarrieFisher, Creator/BridgetFonda, Creator/JodieFoster, Creator/TeriGarr, Creator/JenniferGrey, Creator/MelanieGriffith, Creator/GoldieHawn, Creator/AnjelicaHuston, Creator/AmyIrving, Creator/DianeKeaton, Creator/MargotKidder, Creator/DianeLane, Creator/JessicaLange, Music/{{Madonna}}, Creator/KristyMcNichol, Creator/LizaMinnelli, Creator/TatumONeal, Creator/MichellePfeiffer, Creator/GildaRadner, Creator/MirandaRichardson, Creator/MegRyan, Creator/SusanSarandon, Creator/JaneSeymourActress, Creator/AllySheedy, Creator/CybillShepherd, Creator/BrookeShields, Creator/SissySpacek, Creator/SharonStone and Creator/SigourneyWeaver were all considered for the role of Sarah Connor before it was offered to Creator/DebraWinger. However, Winger declined before filming began.

to:

* Creator/MattDillion, Creator/ScottGlenn, Creator/TommyLeeJones, Creator/ChristopherReeve, Creator/MickeyRourke, Music/{{Sting}} Creator/KurtRussell, Music/BruceSpringsteen, Music/{{Sting}}, Creator/TreatWilliams and Creator/BruceWillis were considered for Kyle Reese.
* Creator/RosannaArquette, Creator/KimBasinger, Creator/GlennClose, Creator/JamieLeeCurtis, Creator/GeenaDavis, Creator/MiaFarrow, Creator/CarrieFisher, Creator/BridgetFonda, Creator/JodieFoster, Creator/TeriGarr, Creator/JenniferGrey, Creator/MelanieGriffith, Creator/JessicaHarper, Creator/GoldieHawn, Creator/AnjelicaHuston, Creator/AmyIrving, Creator/DianeKeaton, Creator/MargotKidder, Creator/DianeLane, Creator/JessicaLange, Music/{{Madonna}}, Creator/KristyMcNichol, Creator/LizaMinnelli, Creator/TatumONeal, Creator/MichellePfeiffer, Creator/GildaRadner, Creator/MirandaRichardson, Creator/MegRyan, Creator/SusanSarandon, Creator/JaneSeymourActress, Creator/AllySheedy, Creator/CybillShepherd, Creator/BrookeShields, Creator/SissySpacek, Creator/SharonStone Creator/SharonStone, and Creator/SigourneyWeaver were all considered for the role of Sarah Connor before it was offered to Creator/DebraWinger. However, Winger declined before filming began.



* Creator/DarylHannah turned down the role of Sarah Connor in favour of ''Film/{{Splash}}'', Creator/KateCapshaw turned it down in favour of ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'', Creator/KathleenTurner turned it down in favour of ''Film/RomancingTheStone'' and Creator/JuliaLouisDreyfus turned it down in favour of ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''.

to:

* Creator/DarylHannah turned down the role of Sarah Connor in favour of ''Film/{{Splash}}'', Creator/KateCapshaw turned it down in favour of ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'', Creator/KathleenTurner turned it down in favour of ''Film/RomancingTheStone'' and Creator/JuliaLouisDreyfus turned it down in favour of ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''. Creator/LisaLanglois was offered the role, but turned it down due to her already shooting ''The Slugger's Wife''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* Creator/RosannaArquette, Creator/KimBasinger, Creator/GlennClose, Creator/JamieLeeCurtis, Creator/GeenaDavis, Creator/MiaFarrow, Creator/CarrieFisher, Creator/BridgetFonda, Creator/JodieFoster, Creator/TeriGarr, Creator/JenniferGrey, Creator/MelanieGriffith, Creator/GoldieHawn, Creator/AnjelicaHuston, Creator/AmyIrving, Creator/DianeKeaton, Creator/MargotKidder, Creator/DianeLane, Creator/JessicaLange, Music/{{Madonna}}, Creator/LizaMinnelli, Creator/TatumONeal, Creator/MichellePfeiffer, Creator/GildaRadner, Creator/MirandaRichardson, Creator/MegRyan, Creator/SusanSarandon, Creator/JaneSeymourActress, Creator/AllySheedy, Creator/CybillShepherd, Creator/BrookeShields, Creator/SissySpacek, Creator/SharonStone and Creator/SigourneyWeaver were all considered for the role of Sarah Connor before it was offered to Creator/DebraWinger. However, Winger declined before filming began.

to:

* Creator/RosannaArquette, Creator/KimBasinger, Creator/GlennClose, Creator/JamieLeeCurtis, Creator/GeenaDavis, Creator/MiaFarrow, Creator/CarrieFisher, Creator/BridgetFonda, Creator/JodieFoster, Creator/TeriGarr, Creator/JenniferGrey, Creator/MelanieGriffith, Creator/GoldieHawn, Creator/AnjelicaHuston, Creator/AmyIrving, Creator/DianeKeaton, Creator/MargotKidder, Creator/DianeLane, Creator/JessicaLange, Music/{{Madonna}}, Creator/KristyMcNichol, Creator/LizaMinnelli, Creator/TatumONeal, Creator/MichellePfeiffer, Creator/GildaRadner, Creator/MirandaRichardson, Creator/MegRyan, Creator/SusanSarandon, Creator/JaneSeymourActress, Creator/AllySheedy, Creator/CybillShepherd, Creator/BrookeShields, Creator/SissySpacek, Creator/SharonStone and Creator/SigourneyWeaver were all considered for the role of Sarah Connor before it was offered to Creator/DebraWinger. However, Winger declined before filming began.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* Creator/RosannaArquette, Creator/KimBasinger, Creator/GlennClose, Creator/JamieLeeCurtis, Creator/GeenaDavis, Creator/MiaFarrow, Creator/CarrieFisher, Creator/BridgetFonda, Creator/JodieFoster, Creator/TeriGarr, Creator/JenniferGrey, Creator/MelanieGriffith, Creator/GoldieHawn, Creator/AnjelicaHuston, Creator/AmyIrving, Creator/DianeKeaton, Creator/MargotKidder, Creator/DianeLane, Creator/JessicaLange, Music/{{Madonna}}, Creator/LizaMinnelli, Creator/MichellePfeiffer, Creator/GildaRadner, Creator/MirandaRichardson, Creator/MegRyan, Creator/SusanSarandon, Creator/JaneSeymourActress, Creator/AllySheedy, Creator/CybillShepherd, Creator/BrookeShields, Creator/SissySpacek, Creator/SharonStone and Creator/SigourneyWeaver were all considered for the role of Sarah Connor before it was offered to Creator/DebraWinger. However, Winger declined before filming began.

to:

* Creator/RosannaArquette, Creator/KimBasinger, Creator/GlennClose, Creator/JamieLeeCurtis, Creator/GeenaDavis, Creator/MiaFarrow, Creator/CarrieFisher, Creator/BridgetFonda, Creator/JodieFoster, Creator/TeriGarr, Creator/JenniferGrey, Creator/MelanieGriffith, Creator/GoldieHawn, Creator/AnjelicaHuston, Creator/AmyIrving, Creator/DianeKeaton, Creator/MargotKidder, Creator/DianeLane, Creator/JessicaLange, Music/{{Madonna}}, Creator/LizaMinnelli, Creator/TatumONeal, Creator/MichellePfeiffer, Creator/GildaRadner, Creator/MirandaRichardson, Creator/MegRyan, Creator/SusanSarandon, Creator/JaneSeymourActress, Creator/AllySheedy, Creator/CybillShepherd, Creator/BrookeShields, Creator/SissySpacek, Creator/SharonStone and Creator/SigourneyWeaver were all considered for the role of Sarah Connor before it was offered to Creator/DebraWinger. However, Winger declined before filming began.

Top