Christian Bale is, at this very moment, one of the most bankable actors in the entire movie industry and that’s mostly because of the success he registered with his portrayal of Batman in the two installments of what promises to be a longevous franchise. If his John Connor take is just as successful, then the rest is history, as they say – and, by the looks of the latest shot off the set, it will certainly be.

“Terminator: Salvation” was initially a project so shrouded in mystery and doubt that whether it would actually make it to see the light of day was the question everybody wanted answered, and fast. Now, not only has the movie been greenlit, but it’s also nearing completion, so we get to sit back and take in the whole promotional campaign that is just beginning to unfold, and which promises to be massive.

This shot, one of the few that got out in the media and on the Internet, off the set of the flick, aside from bringing nothing surprising to the table (there’s a Terminator and then there’s Christian/John behind it, looking as if about to attack it), can be held as somehow of a guarantee that “Terminator: Salvation” will not disappoint fans of the franchise. ‘And why should it?’ most movie critics are asking. It’s got one great (and verified) story, the hottest man in showbiz, director McG and money to spare. Even the producers seem certain it will be a massive hit since they’ve already signed for two more sequels.

“It was important for me to get the most credible actor of his generation to come and add gravitas to what we were trying to achieve. I wanted to respect the audience, and be very mindful of the mythology. We take this very seriously.” director McG said not long ago about the mission he set on when he agreed to take up the project. 

“Terminator: Salvation” is scheduled for theatrical release on May 22, 2009. Since it’s a long way to go until then, keep an eye on this space for more promo shots and details.