The biggest, largest and maybe most important film to shoot in New Mexico will open this week, and “Terminator Salvation” is already expected to be one of the biggest films of the summer.
“Terminator Salvation” is the fourth film in the “Terminator” series and the first of a new trilogy of films that follow John Connor – the boy from the first three films – as he leads a human resistance against an army of robots intent on dominating the world.
The film may make a large impact on the box office this summer and made a huge impact on New Mexico when it shot here in 2008. With a budget that was reported at more than $200 million, it was the most expensive film shot to date in the state. The movie hired hundreds of crew members in three units, two filming at Albuquerque Studios and a third that shot at locations around New Mexico, from the Taos Gorge Bridge to Kirtland Air Force Base and Santa Fe.
The movie stars Christian Bale, who had a famous blow up on the set, as well as Sam Worthington and Helena Bonham Carter , but it looks like New Mexico may be the real star. Several dramatic scenes in the film take advantage of the state, including a scene on Taos’ famous Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Bobby Foster Road, best known as the access road to the Journal Pavilion, also plays a major role in the film.
“Terminator Salvation” was also a huge boost to New Mexico’s film industry. At a time when most studios were backing off on production, “Terminator” hired hundreds of local people, enough to have staffed two or three medium-size Hollywood films.
The movie will first be shown Wednesday at midnight screenings and officially opens Thursday.
