Skynet is setting its sights on Japan in the newTerminator-inspired anime series,Terminator Zero. It’s been five years since we’ve seen theTerminatorfranchise on-screen, withTerminator: Dark Fatebeing the latest installment to not-quite reignite interest inthe creatively struggling series. It’s been even longer since we’ve gotten a television series set in theTerminatoruniverse, the last one beingthe 2008 fan-favorite series,Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. It seems the television format has treated the franchise well in the past, soTerminator Zeromight be just what the long-running saga needs to reinvent itself for a new generation.
As the war between man and machine rages on in the distant future of 2022, the origins of the brutal conflict are just beginning in the year 1997.Terminator Zerois set to introduce a new cast of characters who will be integral in the impending Skynet invasion, as well as a brand-new class of Terminator (Timothy Olyphant) for the human heroes to outrun. To learn more about the ambitious anime series, as well as its cast, trailer, release date, and more,here is everything we know so far aboutTerminator Zero.
Terminator Zero
2022: A future war has raged for decades between the few human survivors and an endless army of machines. 1997: The AI known as Skynet gained self-awareness and began its war against humanity.Caught between the future and this past is a soldier sent back in time to change the fate of humanity. She arrives in 1997 to protect a scientist named Malcolm Lee who works to launch a new AI system designed to compete with Skynet’s impending attack on humanity. As Malcolm navigates the moral complexities of his creation, he is hunted by an unrelenting assassin from the future which forever alters the fate of his three children.
Does ‘Terminator Zero’ Have a Release Date?
Skynet’s invasion of the streaming world is nigh, asall episodes ofTerminator Zerowill be available to watch starting Thursday, August 29th, 2024.
Where Can You Watch ‘Terminator Zero’?
Terminator Zerowill be the latest addition to Netflix’s animation empire, as that’s where the new anime series will be exclusively streaming. FollowingBlue Eye Samurai’s several big wins at the Emmys, Netflix has been betting big on animated stories, and 2024 is no exception. In addition toTerminator Zero, Netflix is also set to releaseZack Snyder’s mythology seriesTwilight of the Gods, the latest video game adaptationTomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, and the long-awaited second season ofArcane.
Watch on Netflix
Does ‘Terminator Zero’ Have a Trailer?
The trailer forTerminator Zerooffers just a small taste of what is in store for the first-ever anime series set in theTerminatoruniverse. The trailer features plenty of recognizable visuals that fans of the franchise should be familiar with, mainly the ever-so iconic design of the titular killer machines. We see a brand-new variant of the infamous T-800 as it stalks humanity’s newest hero, Eiko (Sonoya Mizuno), who also cryptically narrates the teaser trailer.
Who Stars in ‘Terminator Zero’?
Even though he’s appeared in everyTerminatorfilm,Arnold Schwarzeneggerwill not be playing the T-800 inTerminator Zero. That said, Schwarzenegger’s iconic portrayal is getting a suitable replacement withJustifiedstar Timothy Olyphant. The Emmy-nominated star has no shortage of iconic roles under his belt, including but not limited toDeadwood,The Mandalorian, andFargo.
Playing opposite to Timothy Olyphant’s relentless Terminator is Sonoya Mizuno, whoGame of Thronesfans may recognize as Mysaria fromHouse of the Dragon. Mizuno’s other work includesEx Machina,Crazy Rich Asians, andManiac. The rest of the star-studded cast ofTerminator Zerois rounded out byAhsokastarRosario Dawson,The Handmaid’s TalestarAnn Dowd, andCastle RockstarAndré Holland.
What is ‘Terminator Zero’ About?
The official plot synopsis forTerminator Zeroreads as follows:
“A warrior from a post-apocalyptic future travels to 1997 to protect an AI scientist being hunted by an unfeeling — and indestructible — cyborg.”
Who is Making ‘Terminator Zero’?
Terminator Zerois being developed by Skydance and Production I.G. Production I.G is the same reputable Japanese animation studio behind theGhost in the Shellfranchise, so they have more than a little experience in stories about futuristic cyborgs.Serving as the showrunner forTerminator ZeroisMattson Tomlin, who is best known for their work onMother/Android,Little Fish, andProject Power.
Are There Any Other ‘Terminator’ Projects?
TheTerminatorseries first began in 1984, with the original film simply being titledThe Terminator. Here, a soldier from the future named Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) is sent back in time to protect a waitress named Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), who is destined to be the mother of the resistance leader. To combat this, Skynet sends someone of their own - a ruthless, emotionless Terminator who is able to walk among humanity as if he were human himself.
The story continues inTerminator 2: Judgment Day, whereSarah Connor goes from an innocent waitress into a hardened Terminator hunting machine. Her son, John Connor (Edward Furlong) has become the next target of Skynet, being pursued by a newer and much more dangerous Terminator model called the T-1000 (Robert Patrick). Desperate to protect their future leader from harm, the future resistance send back a reprogrammed T-800 to protect John from harm, as well as potentially find a way to stop the apocalyptic Judgment Day from taking place.
The TerminatorandTerminator 2: Judgment Dayare widely regarded as the best of the series, while the subsequent sequels haven’t been as well received.Terminator 3: Rise of the Machinesis a goofy mess that borders on parody,Terminator Salvationdoesn’t do the futuristic sci-fi world of the series justice,Terminator Genisysessentially tries to undo everything seen in the first two films, andTerminator: Dark Fatedidn’t revive the franchise in ways fans were hoping. Arguably the bestTerminatorfollow-up we’ve gotten thus far isTerminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, which picks up right after whereTerminator 2: Judgment Dayleft off.
