An anime based on James Cameron’s iconic cyborg assassin film franchise, Terminator, is headed to the world’s most popular streaming service. Netflix and Skydance announced the news in a press release published yesterday, which confirmed that the series would be produced in partnership with Production I.G. This is the legendary Japanese anime studio that was responsible for unforgettable hits such as Ghost in the Shell and the Neon Genesis Evangelion films.
“Anyone who knows my writing knows I believe in taking big swings and going for the heart,” said Mattson Tomlin (Project Power, The Batman), Showrunner/Executive producer. “I’m honored that Netflix and Skydance have given me the opportunity to approach Terminator in a way that breaks conventions, subverts expectations and has real guts.”
“Terminator is one of the most iconic sci-fi stories ever created–and has only grown more relevant to our world over time,” said John Derderian, Netflix, Vice President of Japan & Anime. “The new animated series will explore this universe in a way that has never been done before. We can’t wait for fans to experience this amazing new chapter in the epic battle between machines and humans.”
“I asked my long-time friend and colleague Mamoru Oshii what he thought about the idea of turning Terminator into an animated series,” said Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, President and CEO of Production I.G. “His response was ‘Ishikawa, are you out of your mind?’ At that instant, I was confident we should get onboard. As huge fans, our team at Production I.G is putting their heart and souls into creating this series. We hope fans will enjoy it!”
Netflix and Skydance didn’t elaborate any further on what their Terminator anime will be about, but we suspect that it will feature all of the franchise’s staples, such as the future war and a protagonist hunted by the series’ titular assassins. A cameo by Arnold Schwarzenegger could also be on the table.