Linda Hamilton, the legendary actress who played Sarah Connor in the Terminator movies, has announced that she is done with the franchise and has no interest in starring in a possible reboot. The 65-year-old star, who reprised her role in the 2019 film Terminator: Dark Fate, told Business Insider that she thinks the story of the sci-fi saga has been told enough and that there is no need to relaunch it.
Linda Hamilton said, “I’m done. I’m done. I have nothing more to say. The story’s been told, and it’s been done to death. Why anybody would relaunch it is a mystery to me. But I know our Hollywood world is built on relaunches right now.” She added that she would not watch any future Terminator projects, even if she was a fan of the series before joining it. “When you really buy into something, you don’t see yourself in it. So I think, in a way, it kind of ruined the show for me. I never watch [a project] once I’m in something. It would just completely take me out of the reality of it to see myself in there. So, I won’t be watching [season five],” she said.
Linda Hamilton’s comments come as a surprise to many fans who were hoping to see her return as the iconic heroine who fought against the machines from the future. Hamilton first appeared as Sarah Connor in the 1984 film The Terminator, directed by James Cameron and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the cyborg assassin. She then came back for the 1991 sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day, which was a huge blockbuster and a critical success. However, she did not participate in the next three films of the franchise: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), Terminator Salvation (2009), and Terminator Genisys (2015).
Linda Hamilton made a comeback in Terminator: Dark Fate, which was a direct sequel to Terminator 2 and ignored the events of the other films. The movie, which also featured Schwarzenegger, was produced by Cameron and directed by Tim Miller. It received positive reviews from critics and fans, but it failed to perform well at the box office, earning only $261 million worldwide on a budget of $185-196 million. The disappointing results put the future of the franchise in doubt, despite Cameron’s plans to write a script for Terminator 7.
Linda Hamilton, however, is not interested in being part of any potential reboot or continuation of the Terminator story. She believes that the franchise has lost its originality and relevance, and that everything in Hollywood is a relaunch now. She said, “I truly feel like, and felt like, Sarah Connor is done. And it’s been done to death. And I don’t know what else there is to say about it. I mean, I love the character, I love the story, but I just feel like it’s time to move on.” She also admitted that she does not know how the story ends, and that she has to be careful with what she says to avoid spoiling anything. “They have to be very careful with their story, so I still don’t know how it ends. And it takes a lot of discipline to not know where it’s going to go. But that’s to protect it from all of the people that want to know,” she said.
Linda Hamilton’s decision to leave the Terminator franchise may disappoint some fans who were hoping to see her reprise her role as Sarah Connor in future films. However, it may also be a wise choice for the actress, who has proven her talent and versatility in other roles and genres. Hamilton has recently hinted at joining the cast of Stranger Things Season 5, the popular Netflix sci-fi horror series set in the 1980s. She said, “I’ve watched every season with relish. I just love it, so it’s kind of, like, imposter syndrome where I don’t [feel that I] fit in there. That’s a whole world set in the ’80s.” She added, “I do get to be there for table reads and watch it unfold and be part of it. I’m thrilled to be part of it, but I just never, ever saw that one coming. It is different when you’re a fan of the show to sort of go, ‘Well, how do I fit?’ But we’re working on it. It’s good. It’s really good.”
Hamilton’s role in Stranger Things Season 5 is still a mystery, but it is likely that she will play a character related to the supernatural events and mysteries that plague the town of Hawkins, Indiana. Fans of the show are eagerly waiting for the release date of the fifth and final season, which is expected to be sometime in 2024. Hamilton’s involvement in the show may be a sign of her willingness to explore new and different stories, rather than sticking to the same old formula. Hamilton said, “I’m always looking for something new and different. I don’t want to repeat myself or do the same thing over and over again. I want to challenge myself and grow as an actor and as a person.”
Linda Hamilton’s career as an actress has spanned over four decades, and she has starred in many films and TV shows besides the Terminator franchise. Some of her notable works include Beauty and the Beast (1987-1990), Dante’s Peak (1997), Chuck (2010-2012), and Curfew (2019). She has also received several awards and nominations for her performances, including two Golden Globe nominations and an MTV Movie Award. Hamilton is regarded as one of the most influential and iconic female action stars of all time, and her role as Sarah Connor has inspired many other actresses and characters in the genre. Hamilton said, “I’m very proud of what I’ve done and what I’ve achieved. I’m very grateful for the opportunities and the recognition that I’ve received. I’m very happy with my life and my career. I don’t have any regrets or complaints.”
Linda Hamilton’s announcement that she is done with the Terminator franchise may mark the end of an era for the sci-fi saga, but it may also open new doors for her and for the fans. Hamilton has shown that she is not afraid to try new things and to take risks, and that she is always looking for ways to improve and evolve. Hamilton said, “I’m not done yet. I still have a lot to offer and a lot to learn. I’m always curious and excited about what’s next. I’m always ready for a new adventure.”
