Terminator Salvation is an upcoming science fiction post-apocalyptic war film and fourth in the Terminator franchise.

Directed by McG, the fourth Terminator movie stars Christian Bale as John Connor and Sam Worthington as Marcus Wright, a cyborg who believes he is human. It also introduces a young version of the first film’s hero, Kyle Reese, played by Anton Yelchin, and depicts the origins of the T-800 Model 101 Terminator, played by Roland Kickinger. The film, set in 2018, focuses on the war between humanity and Skynet. It abandons the format of previous entries in the series, which only revolved around Terminators and various other characters traveling through time to either kill or protect John Connor before the events of Judgment Day unfold.

It’s interesting to note that during filming Terminator Salvation, Christian Bale broke his hand and Sam Worthington hurt his back. Special effects technician Mike Menardis almost lost his leg filming an explosion. The sequence required a manhole being blown into the air, which hit Menardis and partially severed his leg. McG noted it was testament to the gritty style of the film. “I say with respect, I didn’t want that Star Wars experience of everything’s a blue screen, tennis balls, and go for it. I had Stan Winston build all the machines. We built all the sets, the explosive power, the explosive power so you feel that wind and that percussion and that heat blowing your eyebrows off. And with that you get a couple bumps and bruises on the way, but you get it in an integrity and a realism that hopefully echoes Apocalypse Now. You couldn’t say, ‘Let’s just shoot Apocalypse Now in Burbank, I think it’s going to feel just as good.'”

Terminator Salvation is set to premiere on May 21, 2009.

Video Link: Terminator Salvation HD Trailer