Entertainment News

Commentary: James Cameron brings Linda Hamilton back to the 'Terminator' franchise but snubs 'Wonder Woman' again

By Meredith Woerner

Linda Hamilton in "Terminator 2." (Skydance)

The original Sarah Connor is back. Fans are going crazy at director James Cameron’s announcement that Linda Hamilton, the first actor to portray fan-favorite Connor in the “Terminator” franchise, will be returning to the world of killer robots — a reveal that he championed due to what he said was Hollywood’s lack of roles for female action heroes over the age of 50. Which leads us to ask, has James Cameron actually seen “Wonder Woman?”

New “Terminator” franchise director Tim Miller (formally from “Deadpool”) and Cameron hosted a filmmaker discussion on the Paramount Studios lot to give an update on all things Skynet.

According to the Hollywood Reporter — other media outlets were not allowed inside the THR-hosted conversation — Cameron was particularly excited about the inclusion of Hamilton because “there are 50-year-old, 60-year-old guys out there killing bad guys … but there isn’t an example of that for women.”

This statement completely disregards the much-praised performances of 51-year-old Robin Wright and 52-year-old Connie Nielsen, who played warrior women Antiope and Hippolyta in “Wonder Woman.” Both characters are shown leaping off horses and into battle in the very first action scene of the film


Robin Wright in "Wonder Woman." (Warner Bros.)

Cameron’s remarks are especially odd considering the fact that the director received a lot of online flak last month for calling the titular character of the popular movie “misguided” and a “step backwards” for female heroes. His comments received so much attention they prompted "Wonder Woman" director Patty Jenkins to respond.

That said, Cameron is correct that in the world of "The Mummy" and in the "Taken" franchise, for example, there are certainly a dearth of mature lead action roles portrayed by women. However, without any plot details, the depth of Hamilton's role in the new feature is not known.

What we do know is that Arnold Schwarzenegger will be involved (in some form) and that this new movie will follow the action of 1991's "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." It is also poised to serve as the first film in a new trilogy within the "Terminator" world as Cameron revealed that they were actively searching for an "18-something woman" to be the "centerpiece" of the new series.