James Cameron explains how robo-Ahnuld is older in Terminator Genisys

By Rick Marshall Published October 21, 2014

It’s been 30 years since The Terminator introduced audiences to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s iconic T-800 assassin sent from a post-apocalyptic future to destroy humanity’s only hope for survival, and during a recent celebration of the film’s anniversary, director James Cameron weighed in on the impending reboot of the franchise he started.

According to Cameron, he provided the idea that allowed Schwarzenegger to reprise his role as the hulking android in next year’s Terminator Genisys.

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“I pointed out [to Terminator Genisys producer David Ellison] that the outer covering [of the Terminator] was actually not synthetic, that it was organic and therefore could age,” Cameron told Deadline. “You could theoretically have a Terminator that was sent back in time, missed his target, and ended up just kind of living on in society.”

“Because he is a learning computer and has a brain as a central processor, he could actually become more human as he went along without getting discovered,” he added.

Related: A Doctor Who star joins the cast of Terminator Genisys

Although Cameron isn’t directly involved in Genisys, he has offered some input and suggestions about the 2015 film, which stars Jason Clarke, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, J.K. Simmons, Dayo Okeniyi, Byung Hun Lee, and Matt Smith, in addition to Schwarzenegger. However, the celebrated director acknowledged he has read the script by Laeta Kalogridis (who’s currently working on a script for Cameron’s long-awaited Battle Angel movie) and Patrick Lussier.

Cameron said at this point in the franchise’s history, he’s just happy he doesn’t need to worry about what’s next for the T-800.

“It’s not my problem, that’s the beauty of it,” he said. “It’s like being a grandparent and the kids come over then you can send them back. I think the chain’s been broken by the films in between. When I walked away from it I had to do it with the sense that I can’t invest in this emotionally anymore. If it’s not good, it doesn’t really bother me personally.”

Terminator Genisys hits theaters July 1, 2015.

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