Justin Lin’s rigorous shooting schedule for the latest iteration of Fast and the Furious has forced the sought-after director to drop his involvement in the upcoming Terminator 5 film.
However, Lin reportedly told Terminator rights owner Megan Ellison and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger he may be able to helm the project if the first of two movies is postponed past the fourth quarter of 2012.
The delay would effectively allow Lin to complete the sixth installment of the Fast and the Furious franchise.
According to Deadline’s Mike Fleming, Lin was already in the process of “working closely” with Schwarzenegger and Ellison to craft a viable story that would end the James Cameron-hatched battle between humans and the cyborgs of Skynet.
“[Still], it would require some effort for Ellison to get the film underway by late next year,” wrote Fleming.
“She hasn’t got a script and I don’t think she’s even hired a screenwriter yet. She also hasn’t set a studio partner, even though several are interested.”
Ellison and Schwarzenegger are under pressure to kick off shooting for Terminator 5 ASAP, as the franchise rights will return to James Cameron in 2018.
