Jamie Lee Curtis has expressed her eagerness for a sequel to the 1994 action film True Lies, directed by James Cameron and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The movie featured a spy whose life became complicated by suspicions about his wife’s loyalty. Despite the film’s enduring popularity and Curtis’s willingness to revisit her character Helen Tasker, progress towards a sequel is hindered primarily by Cameron’s involvement—or lack thereof.
The Role of James Cameron and the Challenges for a Sequel
Curtis recently shared with ET that a True Lies sequel would depend entirely on James Cameron’s participation. She explained the importance of his involvement, stating,
“I always hoped that Arnold [Schwarzenegger] and I would get to do True Lies again. I don’t think that’ll happen because it could only happen if Jim Cameron wrote it. I don’t think we would ever do it without him. That was obviously a movie that changed my life in a big way.”
Cameron remains deeply occupied with his expansive Avatar franchise, including the upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash, as well as directing Ghosts of Hiroshima, an adaptation of Charles Pellegrino’s book. Alongside these projects, he is also reportedly writing Terminator 7, which is expected to have a strong focus on artificial intelligence. These commitments leave little room for a True Lies sequel at this time.
The History of True Lies Sequel Plans
Plans for a True Lies sequel were reportedly in development during the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, the September 11 attacks led James Cameron to reconsider continuing the project. Years later, before Avatar premiered in 2009, Cameron gave a cautiously optimistic response about a follow-up during a question session at San Diego Comic-Con, mentioning that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s duties as Governor of California were a significant obstacle, but suggested there was hope for the future.
Despite Schwarzenegger no longer holding the governorship, no sequel has surfaced in the sixteen years since. Instead, the franchise attempted a return with a True Lies television series in 2023, which was canceled after just one season.
Legacy and Current Status of the True Lies Franchise
True Lies remains highly regarded, holding a 72% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earning $378 million at the box office at the time of release. Though a major hit, a sequel featuring Schwarzenegger, Curtis, and Cameron seems increasingly unlikely. All three continue to be active in Hollywood, contributing to various projects that will engage audiences for years to come.
Jamie Lee Curtis’s Continued Connection to Her Role
For Curtis, True Lies was a pivotal film and a rewarding experience that left a lasting impact on her career. She has revisited her iconic roles in Halloween and Freaky Friday recently, and if the right circumstances arose, she would welcome the opportunity to return as Helen Tasker in another high-stakes mission alongside Harry Tasker. However, any future True Lies story depends heavily on the alignment of key players, especially James Cameron’s creative involvement.
