10 Directors Who Bailed On Their Own Movie Franchises (But Should Have Stuck Around)

1. James Cameron - Terminator

James Cameron began his movie career in style with The Terminator, a low-budget sci-fi that was a box office smash, and led to the enormously successful sequel T2: Judgement Day.

Following its release, there was much discussion about a third Terminator movie, though Cameron kept himself plenty busy in the interceding years with True Lies, Titanic and his explorations of the real-life Titanic wreckage. Eventually, T3 moved on without him, and Jonathan Mostow delivered an entertaining if totally inferior take, before the reins were later handed to McG for the humourlessly dull Terminator: Salvation.

Cameron has spoken frankly about his feelings on the two subsequent movies, and though he's extremely unlikely to ever return to his baby given that his latest franchise, Avatar, will probably keep him busy until the grave, his sticking around would have ensured a certain level of integrity and commitment to story.

Cameron has yet to make a bad film, and with his steady hand, the Terminator franchise could have been four awesome movies rather than two awesome ones, one kinda good one and one that was absolute garbage.

Which movie directors do you most wish had stuck around for their franchises? Let us know in the comments below.