MGM to Snatch Terminator 5 Rights?
MGM has a 30-day right of first refusal to finance and distribute the fifth “Terminator” film, a right earned through the settlement of a lawsuit between the studio and Halcyon Corp.
This something that Warner Brothers as well as myself are gritting our teeth about because speculation is that MGM has every intention of making a serious play for the franchise, potentially trumping the WB, which is distributing Terminator Salvation in domestic territories, and Sony, which is releasing the film overseas.
MGM could use another blockbuster project on their plate but at what cost? The last 2 Bond films were done with Sony as a partner and The Hobbit, Robocop and Materese Circle are most likely going to get partnered with someone as well. To be honest I do not think that MGM can spring for the cost of a fifth Terminator film being that the third and fourth films required an investment of approximately $50 million from Warner Brothers for domestic, with Sony paying in the vicinity of $75 million for international rights, which became more expensive because Sony acquired additional territories from Halcyon, including Japan.
Ultimately I hope MGM is playing a bully card and making a point rather than a purchase. The only good thing is that Sony is releasing Terminator Salvation overseas being that they partner with MGM on the Bond series they might be able to co-finance the fifth film together but that arrangement doesn’t bear well with me as I’d like to have the current distribution channel stay the same because ultimately the franchise has been handled very well.
