JK Simmons Is Signed For 'Terminator Genisys' Sequels [/Film Interview]

Terminator Genisys is now in theaters, which means I can now share with you an interview I conducted with JK Simmons last week while covering the Genisys premiere in Berlin. I'm posting this after the release because Simmons' character O'Brien is a second-half reveal, and so I don't have to dance around that fact I talked to him about the film in full-on spoiler mode. (So you may not want to watch the video until you've seen the film.)

In addition to talking to Simmons about his role in this film, I also chatted with the Whiplash star about possible future Terminator sequels. Does his character survive Terminator Genisys? Could he appear in the planned sequels? Is he signed on for Terminator 6 and Terminator 7? If they were to make more sequels, how would his character fit into the future plans? Find out all this and more, after the jump.

Here is my full video interview with JK Simmons:

I asked Simmons if his character survives this film, because although it looks like it in the movie, you can never be sure. Here is his response:

"Yes, we are told O'Brien does [survive]... in fact, we went back and did a little added shot on the roof of the whole helicopter sequence to make sure that we see that after Arnold throws me away so that he can save people, I'm one of those that he saves, and I'm still alive and watching whats happening."

I asked him to clarify, is he signed on for more Terminator sequels?

"I am signed on, so if there are sequels I will by God be there"

As for if people will take O'Brien more seriously the next time around, or if he remains perceived as a crackpot, Simmons gives us some clues as there have been discussions on the future of the character:

"There are a lot of ways we could go with O'Brien and we've actually have had those discussions already, so I do know where it goes — but thats part of the fun of the character, he's the only guy in 2017, in the regular world, that has a clue whats going on. Nobody believes him, but he does sorta know whats up, or is beginning to figure out what the whole story is here. So I think if we make the sequels as they continue, I think O'Brien's credibility level will develop."

Two sequels have been planned and are written, but everyone involved from Arnold Schwarzenegger to producers David Ellison and Dana Goldberg have said it all depends on Terminator Genisys doing well at the box office, proving fans want more of the story.

Early box office looks a bit lower than the studio expected — it seems like the film will make around $45 million opening weekend, about $10 million short of expectations. I know I've heard the film is tracking much bigger in international markets where Arnold is still a much bigger draw, so that may be the deciding point.