THE BATMAN 2 Writer Pitches a Live-Action TERMINATOR Horror Movie After TERMINATOR ZERO Cancellation

After the cancellation of Terminator Zero, franchise fans were left wondering what could’ve been. Now, Mattson Tomlin, co-writer of The Batman: Part II, is opening up about where he would take the killer-machine saga next.

And if he had control of Skynet’s destiny, it wouldn’t involve massive explosions and globe-trotting spectacle. He’d drag the franchise straight into horror.

Tomlin recently confirmed on X that Terminator Zero won’t be returning for another season. The animated series, which was set in the aftermath of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, explored two timelines: a devastated 2022 Future War and 1997, the year Skynet became self-aware and humanity’s fate was sealed.

Critics and audiences responded well. The show earned 87% from critics and 79% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. But strong reviews don’t always equal strong numbers.

Tomlin addressed the cancellation directly, writing: “The critical and audience reception to it was tremendous, but at the end of the day not nearly enough people watched it,” he wrote.

“I would’ve loved to deliver on the Future War I had planned in seasons 2 and 3, but I’m also very happy with how it feels contained as is.”

It sounds like there was a bigger roadmap in place. According to Tomlin, Season 2 was fully written and much of Season 3 had already been mapped out. He even teased more about what might’ve been, saying:

“Maybe someday I’ll do a big thread about the plans I had for the full five season run,” he said.

But here’s where things get really interesting. When a fan expressed hope that Tomlin might one day return to the Terminator universe, he didn’t brush it off. Instead, he laid out exactly how he’d do it. And it’s a sharp pivot from what the franchise has become over the years.

Tomlin wrote: “If I had my say (which I obviously don’t, screen rant let’s not even get started) my return to the Terminator universe would be with a live action, lower budget full-fledged horror movie.”

A lower-budget, live-action Terminator horror movie. That’s a wild idea, but it also makes a lot of sense.

The original 1984 The Terminator worked so well because it felt like a relentless slasher film wrapped in sci-fi skin. One unstoppable machine stalking its prey. Over time, the series evolved into large-scale action blockbusters, leaning heavily into spectacle. Fun? Sure. But different.

Tomlin’s pitch suggests a return to that stripped-down tension loaded with dread. A Terminator hunting in the shadows instead of marching through CGI battlefields. That kind of approach could give the franchise a fresh identity while reconnecting it to its roots.

Of course, Tomlin made it clear he doesn’t currently have that power. The decision isn’t his to make. But the idea is still exciting. A Terminator horror movie, done right, could be terrifying in a way the franchise hasn’t been in decades.

For now, Terminator Zero stands as a one-season story. The Future War Tomlin envisioned for Seasons 2 and 3 will never see the light of day. Whether he ever gets the chance to unleash a smaller, scarier Terminator story is anyone’s guess.

But if studios are listening, there’s something compelling about sending the T-800 back to basics.

Would you want to see a live-action Terminator horror movie?