A mere week after the (bafflingly) in-demand director jumped ship from Summit’s HIGHLANDER reboot, Justin Lin has now walked away from the long-in development TERMINATOR 5.

But for fans of Lin, all might not be lost, with the FAST & FURIOUS guru claiming that he would return to the project if Arnold Schwarzenegger & current franchise rights owner, 25-year old billionaire heiress and uber mogul Megan Ellison can hold off on their plans to get the ball rolling in the fourth quarter of 2012. Seems he’d rather do another of those car movies instead.

So, seems like the movie – or movies to be accurate, they’re eyeing at least two – are definitely happening after all, despite many wondering if Schwarzenegger’s recent very public indiscretions had soured the actor on returning.

But will they want to put the film on hold for Lin? Is it even worth putting the film on hold for Lin? Sure, the FAST & THE FURIOUS flicks showed the director has mad skillz when it comes to action, but he ain’t no Cameron that’s for sure. I’d actually argue he ain’t no McG either, but that would be foolish of me.

Maybe Lin’s temporary absence from the film will get a few more directors interested in the taking the reigns. Hang on, hasn’t Darren Afonofsky been tirelessly looking for a genre franchise to jump on board since his one-time involvement in the defunct BATMAN YEAR ONE, ROBOCOP and the recent THE WOLVERINE? Anybody got his number?

Who would your ideal director be to take over THE TERMINATOR franchise? Or is Lin the man for the job? Share your thoughts in the Comments or on Twitter @Starburst_Mag