James Cameron Advising Arnold Schwarzenegger On New Terminator Film

James Cameron has been giving Arnold Schwarzenegger tips for when the former California governor returns to the silver screen in the next Terminator film.

Despite being about a hundred (okay, 64, but still), Schwarzenegger said last year that he’d like to return to his most iconic movie role in Terminator 5 (a working title). Cameron, who directed the first two films in the sci-fi series, has been a critic of the more recent movies, and has told Schwarzenegger that he must ensure he is the focus of the next film before signing up.

Cameron revealed to MTV that he and Schwarzenegger met up last autumn, and that he was “as encouraging as possible” about the proposed film. Cameron said:

“Frankly, at that time, I thought it needed to be more about him. I told him he should not do it until it’s focused on his [T-800] character, or he shouldn’t do it. I think there are some great stories that can be told about that character that haven’t even been thought of yet.”

Terminator 5 has been in limbo for a while now, and in September 2011, Fast and Furious director Justin Lin backed out of the project.

Still, a new Terminator film will probably translate to big bucks. Even 2009’s terrible Terminator Salvation made $370m (£225m) globally, despite getting a critical mauling. Schwarzenegger didn’t appear in Salvation, but his return would drag even more punters in.

Schwarzenegger’s Hollywood comeback plans were put on ice in May 2011, after it emerged he had fathered a child with a household employee outside of wedlock more than a decade ago. The actor and his wife Maria Shriver filed for divorce in July after 25 years of marriage.

Would another Terminator film appeal to you, or do you think it’s a franchise best left alone?