McG Makes 'Terminator Salvation' Cast Read Cormac McCarthy
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Warner Brothers, Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek
Ever since McG was announced as director of Terminator Salvation, he's taken on this rather endearing, apologetic, puppy-dog attitude, assuring fans that he takes the franchise seriously, and even apologizing for the absurdity of his trade name. It would have worked much better on me had I not sat through We Are Marshall, but it does make me want to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, especially given how badly I want this sequel to be good.The filmmaker's newest gambit: showing us just how seriously he takes the Terminator franchise. Just how seriously? So seriously, he says, that he distributed copies of Cormac McCarthy's arty, ultra-depressing The Road to his cast, hoping that the novel would help the actors understand the "existential detachment" that comes with living in a post-apocalyptic environment. MTV has a bit more from the director.
I wrote a column on The Road a while back; it's a powerful, upsetting novel, pretty un-Terminator-like in its depiction of an empty, decidedly cyborg-free post-apocalypse. It's hard to take seriously the notion that an entry in the Terminator franchise -- a PG-13 entry at that -- could really draw much inspiration from that book (which is, of course, getting its own bona-fide adaptation later this year), but again: it's endearing, and a bit heartening, to see McG trying so hard.
Related Headlines
Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. Hmm. Speaking of literal, do you REALLY think I was pointing out that "The Road" didn't have cyborgs in it and that therefore "Terminator Salvation" couldn't have been inspired by it? Or might that have been a subtler comment on the "emotion and mood" of the novel versus the "Terminator" franchise and McG's other films? I wonder.
Posted at 2:28PM on Aug 19th 2008 by Eugene Novikov
3. marlen is right, dude. Give the man a break, he is really trying and taking on a very complicated franchise.
Posted at 5:56PM on Aug 19th 2008 by Mr. R
4. I'm charmed by how hard McG is trying. I have a lot of hope for the quality of this film. The cast is stellar and I think that McG is taking it seriously. And I agree that the previous Terminator films don't align with "The Road", but I think this is a good and interesting direction--we, in the film, are at war and maybe it's time to display a little desolation.
Posted at 3:05PM on Aug 19th 2008 by Rebekah
5. That was amazing he had to come out and explain his name. I actually did think it was some cool hip hop name in the same vein as Ice-Cube, Jello-Trayz, Doggie-Balls etc... And called him a twat on more than a number of occasions for it. In fact his name alone is probably the number one reason why I have never ever thought of him as anything more than a music video director.
Well Mr McGinty, I apologise for calling you a twat.
* Though we did all have nicknames at school you know, many of us managed to enter the adult world and leave the silly names at home. Just a thought!
Posted at 4:34PM on Aug 19th 2008 by Gary
6. Jello-Trayz, ftw!
Posted at 5:35PM on Aug 19th 2008 by Cincinnati Mike
7. Casting Christian Bale, Josh Brolin, and Helena Bonham Carter, then having them read The Road for inspiration? I don't say this lightly, but McG: I am giving you the benefit of the doubt.
Posted at 5:21PM on Aug 19th 2008 by AJ Wiley
8. Aha the McG name is clear to me now... i too thought he was trying to be cool and hip hoppety, fuck it, if that was what the dude was called throughout his life than why not, i shall no longer bad mouth him for a silly name as i now understand, and so far from what i've seen of the look hes going for and the passion he seems to be putting into this, i hope this film kicks all sorts of ass and he can stick two fingers up to the cunts like me who doubted him
Posted at 8:43AM on Aug 20th 2008 by bongo123
1. What? That is a perfect inspiration. It's about the emotion and mood, not the actual existence of shiny metal robots.
It's called artistic interpretation. Stop being so literal just so you can do a "hipster who hates McG" post.
Posted at 2:03PM on Aug 19th 2008 by malren