Whilst promoting Terminator: The Machinima series James Middleton, the executive producer of Fox’s now cancelled Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, has raised hopes that the story may continue.
Without confirming any specific plans about how the story might continue, Middleton recently spoke to Sci Fi Wire with words that clearly echo the possibility that the events of the series finale may not end there.
“I feel like I don’t want to raise anybody’s expectations about what’s going to happen with those characters,” Middleton said. “I can tell you that I love those characters. I use a business term, and it sort of belies my emotional investment in these characters, but they are a great franchise asset. My passion for them is not diminished at all, and I’ll just leave it at that.”
Whilst many people regard the TSCC finale as a reasonable story closer, I’m one of the many more who don’t. From my perspective the first two season’s set the scene, whilst the climactic moment of the finale teased a whole new range of questions and, more importantly, unveiled a new and creative direction for both the Terminator story and the evolution of its characters.
“It was a great way for us to end the season, but we would have liked to have continued. There’s no doubt about it,” Middleton said.
“If we had gotten a third season, I should say, we definitely would have explored what it all meant, but I think there’s a great moment where we see Allison [Summer Glau], and John’s look to her is very meaningful. I think that also would have been a great thing in terms of dramatic potential. Like I said, the show has ended, and it would all be speculation, and I really don’t want to raise anybody’s expectations.”
Although Middleton is careful to place caution in his words to prevent letting fans down with unrealistic expectations, his message is clear - there were and still are intentions to take the story beyond the season finale. Perhaps the series might be picked up by a new network (SyFy?) or perhaps the story will be developed in the form of a novel or comic - all of which is speculation for now.
Yet, despite the truth that sometimes even the best intentions lead nowhere, this is the first time a glimmer of hope has surfaced since the series was canceled. I for one will look forward to any medium in which we might be granted our desire to see where the story goes.
The fight to save Sarah Connor is still on.
