T-X
Encyclopedia
The T-X, also known as the Terminatrix, is a fictional character who appears in the 2003 film Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
, which is part of the Terminator franchise
. The T-X is a cyborg assassin with a human female appearance; the character was portrayed by Kristanna Loken
. The T-X has the ability to assume the appearance of other characters; therefore, several other cast members occasionally portrayed the T-X throughout the film. This ability to change shape is similar to that of the T-1000
, the main antagonist of Terminator 2: Judgment Day
.
, sent back to try to stop John Connor
from founding the human resistance. In addition to Connor, the T-X is programmed to seek out and kill 21 other primary targets, including Connor's future wife, Kate Brewster, her father, General Robert Brewster, and several of Connor's future lieutenants. In the case of the lieutenants, the T-X was able to gain access to the public school database, obtain photos and addresses (work and home), and proceeded to kill several one by one. The DVD's special features the only ones are Jose Barrera, Elizabeth and William Anderson and Robert Brewster. (The features state that Robert Brewster was only killed so he couldn't shut down Skynet once it was activated.)
Other than a malfunctioning weapon, the T-X sustained no permanent damage throughout the film, until the Model 101 crashed a helicopter into it, causing it to lose its mimetic coating and legs. It was destroyed only when the reprogrammed Terminator jammed its last power cell into the T-X's mouth and detonated it - causing an internal explosion.
, the second known T-X is trained by captured resistance members for a jump to the 1960s where she will track the Connor family for the next forty years. A captured resistance soldier, Paul Keeley, was tricked into helping make the T-X more human. An implant in his brain caused him to think that the T-X was a girl named Eliza, and his interaction with her helped her learn how to be human. The resistance captures the T-X and rescues Keeley. However, Eliza uses the implant in Paul Keeley's head to make him think that they have been captured by a rogue government, and he frees her. Overburdened with guilt, Paul Keeley convinces John and Katherine Connor to give him another chance to capture Eliza. Through the implant, Paul discovers the training facility she has escaped to, and Eliza is again captured by the resistance. Eliza is then successfully reprogrammed to serve the resistance.
, where it is sent back by Skynet to ally with Hank Henshaw
, the Cyborg Superman, briefly merging with Henshaw to battle Superman
before its systems are destroyed by a computer virus developed by Lex Luthor
.
The T-X was designed in Stan Winston
studios, where it was considered particularly challenging to design, as the script required a character capable of holding its own against the original Terminator. Originally, the T-X's endoskeleton was meant to convey an androgynous
shape which would permit the cyborg to assume the superficial traits of both men and women, though later designs veered on it being more feminine. The final, approved T-X design was done by Aaron Sims, who designed it entirely on computer through a mixture of Photoshop and 3D software. The T-X endoskeleton was painted chrome black, in order to differentiate it from the silver sheen of the T-800 endoskeleton. The T-X was also fitted with blue running lights, rather than the original's red. John Rosengrant later stated that the individual parts of the T-X endoskeleton were hard coated, sanded and polished through machines, resulting in a mathematically perfect model, unlike the endoskeleton in The Terminator, which was sculpted by hand and lacked symmetry.
The T-X is designed to not only terminate humans but rogue Terminators reprogrammed by the Resistance, an "anti-terminator terminator" as stated by John Connor. It is a composite of the T-800 and T-1000
, a solid endoskeleton covered with liquid metal "mimetic polyalloy", allowing it to take the shape of any humanoid it touches. Because it is only coated in this material, it is possible to remove it from the endoskeleton using immensely strong magnetic force, such as from a cyclic particle accelerator. Powering all the T-X's systems is an onboard plasma reactor.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, commonly abbreviated as T3, is a 2003 science fiction action film directed by Jonathan Mostow and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes and Kristanna Loken...
, which is part of the Terminator franchise
Terminator (franchise)
The Terminator series is a science fiction franchise encompassing a series of films and other media concerning battles between Skynet's artificially intelligent machine network, and John Connor's Resistance forces and the rest of the human race....
. The T-X is a cyborg assassin with a human female appearance; the character was portrayed by Kristanna Loken
Kristanna Loken
Kristanna Sommer Loken is an American actress known for her work in both film and television, and as a fashion model.-Early life:Loken was born in Ghent, New York, the daughter of Rande , a model, and Merlin "Chris" Loken, a writer and apple farmer. All four of her grandparents were born in Norway...
. The T-X has the ability to assume the appearance of other characters; therefore, several other cast members occasionally portrayed the T-X throughout the film. This ability to change shape is similar to that of the T-1000
T-1000
The T-1000 is a fictional nanomorph mimetic poly-alloy assassin and the main antagonist in Terminator 2: Judgment Day controlled by the series main antagonist Skynet. The T-1000 is portrayed primarily by Robert Patrick; however, being a shape-shifter, the T-1000 is played by other actors in some...
, the main antagonist of Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a 1991 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and written by Cameron and William Wisher Jr.. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Robert Patrick, and Edward Furlong...
.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
The T-X is the villain in Terminator 3: Rise of the MachinesTerminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, commonly abbreviated as T3, is a 2003 science fiction action film directed by Jonathan Mostow and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes and Kristanna Loken...
, sent back to try to stop John Connor
John Connor
John Connor is a character appearing in the American science fiction Terminator franchise and he serves as the series main protagonist. Created by writer and director James Cameron, the character is first referred to in the 1984 film The Terminator and first appears portrayed by teenage actor...
from founding the human resistance. In addition to Connor, the T-X is programmed to seek out and kill 21 other primary targets, including Connor's future wife, Kate Brewster, her father, General Robert Brewster, and several of Connor's future lieutenants. In the case of the lieutenants, the T-X was able to gain access to the public school database, obtain photos and addresses (work and home), and proceeded to kill several one by one. The DVD's special features the only ones are Jose Barrera, Elizabeth and William Anderson and Robert Brewster. (The features state that Robert Brewster was only killed so he couldn't shut down Skynet once it was activated.)
Other than a malfunctioning weapon, the T-X sustained no permanent damage throughout the film, until the Model 101 crashed a helicopter into it, causing it to lose its mimetic coating and legs. It was destroyed only when the reprogrammed Terminator jammed its last power cell into the T-X's mouth and detonated it - causing an internal explosion.
T3: Terminator Hunt
In the book Terminator HuntT3: Terminator Hunt
Terminator Hunt is a tie-in book to the 2003 movie Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. It was first published in December 2005. It was written by Aaron Allston.A HUNT FOR THE TRUTHA HUNT FOR SURVIVAL-Plot:...
, the second known T-X is trained by captured resistance members for a jump to the 1960s where she will track the Connor family for the next forty years. A captured resistance soldier, Paul Keeley, was tricked into helping make the T-X more human. An implant in his brain caused him to think that the T-X was a girl named Eliza, and his interaction with her helped her learn how to be human. The resistance captures the T-X and rescues Keeley. However, Eliza uses the implant in Paul Keeley's head to make him think that they have been captured by a rogue government, and he frees her. Overburdened with guilt, Paul Keeley convinces John and Katherine Connor to give him another chance to capture Eliza. Through the implant, Paul discovers the training facility she has escaped to, and Eliza is again captured by the resistance. Eliza is then successfully reprogrammed to serve the resistance.
Superman vs. The Terminator: Death to the Future
Another T-X- referred to as the "Terminatrix"- features in the crossover comic Superman vs. The Terminator: Death to the FutureSuperman vs. The Terminator: Death to the Future
Superman vs. The Terminator: Death to the Future is a 2000 four-part comic book crossover written by Alan Grant, with pencils by Steve Pugh and inks by Mike Perkins....
, where it is sent back by Skynet to ally with Hank Henshaw
Hank Henshaw
Hank Henshaw is a fictional supervillain featured in the DC Comics universe. While originally featured primarily as an enemy of Superman, recent years have repositioned him as one of the main enemies of the Green Lantern Corps...
, the Cyborg Superman, briefly merging with Henshaw to battle Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
before its systems are destroyed by a computer virus developed by Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
.
Concept and design
| "We were trying to come up with something that could hold its ground with the original Terminator. That was such an iconic figure- coming up with something that looked even more fantastic when next to the original Terminator was one of the biggest design challenges on the show." |
| — John Rosengrant |
The T-X was designed in Stan Winston
Stan Winston
Stanley Winston was an American visual effects supervisor, makeup artist, and film director. He was best known for his work in the Terminator series, the Jurassic Park series, Aliens, the Predator series, Iron Man, Edward Scissorhands, and Avatar...
studios, where it was considered particularly challenging to design, as the script required a character capable of holding its own against the original Terminator. Originally, the T-X's endoskeleton was meant to convey an androgynous
Androgyny
Androgyny is a term derived from the Greek words ανήρ, stem ανδρ- and γυνή , referring to the combination of masculine and feminine characteristics...
shape which would permit the cyborg to assume the superficial traits of both men and women, though later designs veered on it being more feminine. The final, approved T-X design was done by Aaron Sims, who designed it entirely on computer through a mixture of Photoshop and 3D software. The T-X endoskeleton was painted chrome black, in order to differentiate it from the silver sheen of the T-800 endoskeleton. The T-X was also fitted with blue running lights, rather than the original's red. John Rosengrant later stated that the individual parts of the T-X endoskeleton were hard coated, sanded and polished through machines, resulting in a mathematically perfect model, unlike the endoskeleton in The Terminator, which was sculpted by hand and lacked symmetry.
The T-X is designed to not only terminate humans but rogue Terminators reprogrammed by the Resistance, an "anti-terminator terminator" as stated by John Connor. It is a composite of the T-800 and T-1000
T-1000
The T-1000 is a fictional nanomorph mimetic poly-alloy assassin and the main antagonist in Terminator 2: Judgment Day controlled by the series main antagonist Skynet. The T-1000 is portrayed primarily by Robert Patrick; however, being a shape-shifter, the T-1000 is played by other actors in some...
, a solid endoskeleton covered with liquid metal "mimetic polyalloy", allowing it to take the shape of any humanoid it touches. Because it is only coated in this material, it is possible to remove it from the endoskeleton using immensely strong magnetic force, such as from a cyclic particle accelerator. Powering all the T-X's systems is an onboard plasma reactor.