Remember that moment in the “Terminator Genisys” trailer (above)? The one where the HUGE UNIVERSE-CHANGING PLOT TWIST is revealed? If not, you should flee this article now, because you are to precious for this world and must be protected lest your movie-going experience be ruined this weekend.
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Okay. For those of you still with me, let”s talk about John Connor. In the trailer for “Genisys” we see it revealed he's been tainted by the machines, converted into a hybrid villain who will destroy all of humanity. But that can”t be right? Surely the trailer wouldn't give away the “Luke, I am your father” moment of the new film. It HAD to be a fake-out, right?
Sadly, no.
During an interview, Uproxx broached the question of why Connor”s true nature was blown before the opening credits even rolled with director Alan Taylor. The consensus? Our guess is as good as his.
I certainly directed those scenes with the intention that no one would know. One of my favorite moments – and I think Jason Clarke did a great job with it – is when he walks into the hospital in 2017 and everything from there until the turn, you”re supposed to think, Oh man, this is great. [John Connor is here to save the day.]
So what happened? Marketing algorithms and a skittish fan base. After the letdown that was “Terminator: Salvation,” there was a very real fear fans wouldn”t turn out for “Genisys” unless they knew going in that wasn”t just a retread. Not that Taylor went quietly into that spoiler night.
I had a few heads ups and a few unpleasant conversations where I squawked about this or that. […] They were concerned that people were misperceiving this as kind of a reboot, and none of us wanted to reboot two perfect movies by James Cameron.
Did it work? Were you more willing to see “Genisys” after the reveal? Or do you wish it had been a surprise?