'Terminator' Rights Auctioned

[Carlos Baez]

Rating: Frio™

The rights to the 'Terminator' film franchise are being auctioned off.

Producers Derek Anderson and Victor Kubicek are selling off the rights to make further films in the science fiction series, which has so far spawned four movies, including this year's 'Terminator Salvation'.

The pair are reportedly auctioning the rights after companies they own have become bankrupt.

The pair's Halcyon Holding Group bough the 'Terminator' rights for $25 million in 2007.

The franchise remains a rare example of a blockbuster film which is not owned by a major film studio, though companies including Sony Pictures and Summit Entertainment have registered an interest in acquiring the rights.

Kevin Shultz, senior managing director at company FTI, who are managing the sale, compared the auction -set for later this month - to the recent acquisition of the 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' franchise by children's programmer Nickelodeon for $60 million.

He said: "We have a property that has made three times the box office takings of the 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' films."

'Terminator Salvation', starring Christian Bale, grossed $380 million at the worldwide box office.