May 22, 2009. That's the official date the 'Terminator' film franchise returns to theaters, we've learned today. Directed by McG and more importantly toplined by Christian Bale, "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins" will focus around the plot line fans have been waiting for almost since the original "Terminator" back in 1984 -- the future war against the machines.

No more of those tantalizing teases in each film (and in the current Fox TV series) about the machines battling the human uprising. This time John Connor (Bale) will be front-and-center. Lots of people are a bit worried that McG is a bit of a lightweight to properly handle 'T4' but he did some interesting action scenes in the Charlie's Angels franchise. Let's see what he can do with the mega-budget Warner Bros. is dropping in his lap to revive Gov. Schwarzenegger's most famous character.

BTW, "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins" will have a bit of competition May 22, 2009 from another sequel -- "Night At The Museum 2" also opens that day.