“Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins,” starring Sam Worthington and Christian Bale, began principal photography on May 5th in Albuquerque, New Mexico with McG at the helm.

The film features a script by Michael Ferris and John Brancato and is being produced by Moritz Borman, Derek Anderson, Victor Kubicek and Jeffrey Silver. It is executive produced by Peter D. Graves, Bahman Naraghi, Mario F. Kassar, Andrew G. Vajna, Joel B. Michaels, Dan Lin and Jeanne Allgood.

Warner Bros. Pictures is handling all U.S. and Canadian distribution rights for the film, with Sony Pictures Entertainment handling distribution rights in most international territories (excluding Korea and select Mideast territories).

Set in post-apocalyptic 2018, Christian Bale stars as John Connor, the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators.  But the future Connor was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. 

Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past.  As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet’s operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind.

The film also stars Anton Yelchin as Kyle Reese, Charlotte Gainsbourg as Kate Connor, Moon Bloodgood as Blair Williams, Common as Barnes, and Jadagrace as Star.

“Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins” marks the latest installment of the multi-billion dollar Terminator franchise and will be the first film in a new Terminator trilogy. 

The film is scheduled for a North American theatrical release May 22, 2009.  Principal photography is taking place at the Albuquerque Studios and on location throughout New Mexico.