Bale as the Saviour in Terminator: Salvation (updated)

The Terminator franchise has lived up to its own premise - it relentlessly keeps coming back bigger and badder. This time, however, the new film is set in the future, several years after Judgement Day — right-smack in the middle of Skynet’s war with the remaining human resistance (oh you all know the story!). This is before 2029 wherein John Connor is in his 30’s, played by Christian Bale. Yes, that raspy-voiced hero, at it again!

From the teaser trailer, you can already bet the action will be furious - as machines hunt down John Connor - on land, sea, and air. We’ve yet to see how the special effects (and the Terminators) will fare in this one, as Stan Winston, the franchise’s effects master, recently passed away.

With or without Stan Winston, though -Let’s hope Christian Bale earns as much ka-chings for the Terminator franchise, as he just recently did with Batman.

UPDATE: (as of July 28, 2008)

During the San Diego Comic Con, fans were treated to never-before-seen footages of T4.

Arnold Schwarzenegger WILL BE BACK to reprise his role as the T-800.

James Cameron and Stan Winston both had contributions to the film. Winston is said to have a cameo role - “He wrestles one of the hydrobots,” T4 director McG, said.

The setting will be in 2018, in the middle of the nuclear holocaust.

Terminator 4 or Terminator: Salvation is set for a May 2009 release.