>>213579112 (OP)The only opportunity for a new story that the masses might not immediately write off after so many terribad sequels is Terminator: 0, which would tell the story of what initiates the John Connor loop/paradox. Salvation sort of hinted that it would go in that direction with further movies, involving Reese going back to help Marcus in the "first" loop in a timeline where Connor was never born (maybe Marcus was the John Connor before John Connor).
Either way the plot and setting to set off the loop can be anything. Maybe Reese is sent back from a Skynet-less dystopia timeline to assassinate someone that's responsible for it, and shacks up with Sarah and the butterfly effect is Skynet/John Connor.
I would like to see an explanation for why only flesh-encased things can go back in time, otherwise why not send a dead pig stuffed with weapons/equipment, or why Arnold didn't have a laser gun shoved up his ass.