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After the misfire of the Christian Bale/McG fueled Terminator Salvation, owners Derek Anderson and Victor Kubicek are seeking to sell the rights to the franchise either partly or entirely in an effort to tunnel their way out of bankruptcy. The pair acquired the rights only two years ago, for $25 million dollars.

The franchise is understandably the only profitable property held by their Halcyon Holding Group — according to the LA Times, the Terminator franchise has traded hands more often than any other major film franchise, with James Cameron selling 50% of the rights to the original Terminator to his wife Gale Ann Hurd for a scant (and hilarious) $1.00. Can you imagine owning one of the most popular science fiction franchises for the price of an item on McDonalds’ extra value meal?

The other half went from Cameron’s hands to Hemdale Film Corp. to Carolco Pictures to C2 Pictures to Halcyon in 2007.

Derek Anderson has claimed that the Terminator franchise is worth over $60 million dollars, and even with the mixed response of the third sequel to the film, I’m inclined to believe him. I strongly doubt the rights will linger in midair for long. Who will snatch them up? Keep your eyes peeled to AtomicPopcorn.net for the answer.

(Hey, if they sell as cheaply as Cameron did, I’d consider it.)