Since the release of The Terminator in 1984, there have been a total of four sequels, including 2015’s Terminator: Genisys, but ask a movie buff for their favorite film in the franchise, and chances are fairly good that the answer will be Terminator 2.
T2 is coming up on its 25th anniversary next year, and to celebrate, director James Cameron has teamed up with DMG Entertainment to re-release the film in 3D. While the effects may look somewhat dated now, Terminator 2 is one of the most expensive movies ever shot, and audiences were blown away by the then top-of-the-line visuals.
It’s clear that the re-release will be a very hands-on affair for Cameron, who will be working with DMG and distributor StudioCanal on the 3D conversion. The re-master will use technology from StereoD, whose technology was used in the production of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
This is obviously the first time the film has been shown in 3D, but it’s also the first chance for many who have only seen the film on DVD or not at all to experience it on a big screen. Theaters in China, for example, never had a chance to show the film during its original run.
“Terminator 2 holds a special place as one of the most popular and sought-after movies in our catalog,” StudioCanal’s president of international distribution and marketing Rodolphe Buet said in the press release announcing the re-release. “We are very excited to be teaming up with DMG and James Cameron to breathe new life into T2 and bring it in 3D to cinema-goers in China.”
Expectations for the film are high, especially given the performance of Cameron’s previous 3D theatrical re-release. Titanic returned to theaters in 3D in 2012, and made $343 million worldwide that year. That number pales in comparison to the $2.1 billion it made in its original run, but is still quite impressive.
T2 3D will hit theaters sometime in 2016, starting with China.