Nick Stahl (“In the Bedroom”) has been tapped to star as John Conner in Warner Bros.’ “T3: Rise of the Machines.”
The 22-year-old Stahl, who replaces the role’s originator, Edward Furlong, beat out a bevy of young up-and-comers for the coveted gig.
“Rise of the Machines,” the third installment of the “Terminator” franchise, picks up the story a decade after the sequel, when Connor reteams with his cyborg protector to battle the TX. Script was originated by Tedi Sarafian and rewritten by John Brancato and Michael Ferris.
Lensing is skedded to kick off April 15 in Los Angeles.
Pic is a C-2 Pictures/Intermedia production in association with the Munich-based production entity IMF and Mostow/Lieberman Prods. C-2’s Mario Kassar, Andy Vajna and Joel B. Michaels produce with Hal Lieberman and Colin Wilson. Intermedia co-chairmen Moritz Borman, Nigel Sinclair and Guy East will exec produce.
Arnold Schwarzenegger reprises his role as the Terminator, and Kristanna Loken (“Panic”) is set to play the TX. Jonathan Mostow will direct the pic, which Warner Bros. will distribute domestically. Sony will handle most foreign territories.
Stahl, who portrayed the ill-fated son of Sissy Spacek and Tom Wilkinson in “In the Bedroom,” has previously been seen in such films as “The Thin Red Line” and “Bully.” Thesp recently wrapped “Bookies,” opposite Rachael Leigh Cook and Lukas Haas, as well as the HBO pilot “Carnivale,” which he toplines with Clea DuVall.
He is repped by UTA and Imparato/Fay.
(Dana Harris contributed to this report.)
