Get ready for a fresh take on the Terminator universe as Netflix gears up to launch Terminator Zero, a new animated series. Set to premiere on August 29, 2024 – a date fans will recognize as Judgment Day in the franchise’s lore – this eight-episode anime series is intended to breathe new life into the acclaimed sci-fi world.
Created by Mattson Tomlin, known for his work on The Batman Part II and Project Power, Terminator Zero takes a bold step by focusing on an entirely new cast of characters. The story unfolds across two timelines: 2022, where a war between humans and machines has raged for decades, and 1997, the year Skynet becomes self-aware.
At the heart of the story is Eiko (voiced by Sonoya Mizuno), a soldier from the future sent back to 1997. Her mission is to protect Malcolm Lee, a brilliant scientist developing an AI system to rival Skynet. As Malcolm grapples with the moral implications of his creation, he finds himself hunted by a relentless assassin from the future, setting in motion events that will shape the fate of his three children. Watch the teaser trailer below.
The star-studded voice cast includes Timothy Olyphant as a unique incarnation of the Terminator, Rosario Dawson as Kokoro (an advanced AI that could be humanity’s salvation or destruction), and Ann Dowd as The Prophet, a character Tomlin specifically wrote with her voice in mind.
One of the most interesting aspects of Terminator Zero is its setting in Japan, which presented a unique set of challenges for the writers. Tomlin had to rethink action sequences due to the country’s strict gun laws, leading to creative alternatives like sword-wielding Terminators with blade arms. Thankfully for fans, this constraint has pushed the series to explore new territories within the Terminator mythos.
While the show respects the canon of previous films, it’s not bound by them. Fans can expect callbacks and Easter eggs, but the focus remains on charting a new course. Tomlin has stated that he draws inspiration from the horror elements of the early films, likening the Terminator to iconic slasher villains like Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers.
Netflix has found great success with animated shows recently, thanks to projects like Blue Eye Samurai, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and Arcane. If Terminator Zero manages to present a thoughtful exploration of AI ethics in an animated medium, then it might just be the reboot the series needs to captivate a new generation of sci-fi lovers.
