A new trailer for Terminator Genisys was released earlier today that changes everything I've expected about the movie, but I'm not sure if this is a good thing. It feels like the trailer just spoiled its own plot and I really hope that this is deliberate misdirection. If you haven't seen the trailer, stop, and go watch it now.
So John Conner travels back in time as some kind of terminator or cyborg. In either case, he's given up his humanity — mind blown, exceptions raised, so many new questions. There is a slight possibility it's an elaborate ruse by Skynet, but I think the filmmakers are going for something more horrifying. So the end of goal of the movie now looks to be how to save John from himself, time travel is trippy.
I've taken 83 screenshots and give a purely speculative analysis of what we see. I don't use all 83 in this post but I've conveniently put all of them in a single zip file for easy downloading.
Download 83 Terminator Genisys Screenshots
Young John Conner fixing his bike. Guardian Terminator and Kyle Reese in the distance on the right.
What looks to be John's foster parents in the background.
The youngest John we've seen on screen yet is shocked to see his mother. Maybe it's because she's younger than the last time he saw her.
Assault to gain access to the TDM (time dilation machine).
Kyle Reese going back in time.
T-1000 hiding in a mirror.
Weird T-800 smile, a.k.a. meme this Internet.
Genisys 01:11:19:34 — Anyone know what this means?
John?!?!
I wonder why they're at a hospital.
Sarah and Kyle don't look injured.
The Guardian is not fooled or detects that John is not human. Blasts a shotgun into John's chest.
A worried Sarah
Thats not normal blood
Introducing John-Bot-8000, also WTF?!!!
Look ma, no scars, because why pretend?
Loaded
Ready
FIGHT!
John-Bot-8000
John-Bot-8000 getting torn apart by an MRI machine which has very powerful magnets. Magnets might be how they stop John-Bot-8000.
The T-800 from the first Terminator going back in time.
A partial built TDM in present day or near future. John-Bot-8000 and the Guardian look to be having one final battle.
They keep improving this shot.
This CGI T-800 is really looking good.
One thing is clear, everything about Terminator is going to change. If it works — and I hope it does — they will have revitalized the franchise. But it if fails, they have not just shot themselves in the foot, they have likely killed the franchise for good.
Terminator Genisys jumps into theaters July 1st (USA).